Five abducted Rivers State University students regain freedom

Five students of Rivers State University (RSU), Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, who were abducted from the institution’s satellite campus in Emuoha Local Government Area on Tuesday, have regained their freedom.

The abduction had sparked panic among students, leading to a protest in which they demanded that the school management relocate them to the main campus. In response, RSU Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi temporarily suspended academic activities at the Emuoha campus and instructed students to vacate the premises.

Confirming the development on Thursday, Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the students were rescued unharmed following an operation conducted at Rumuodogo 2 by the police tactical teams, alongside other security agencies.

“On 04/12/2025 at about 0100hrs, the five abducted victims — Prince London ‘M’, Azubuike Kelechukwu ‘M’, Elizabeth Aniete ‘F’, Onyebuchi Precious ‘M’, and London Sampson ‘M’ — who were abducted by yet-to-be-identified cultists from their isolated residences, have been successfully rescued unhurt,” the statement read.

Iringe-Koko added that the students, including one female, have been taken to a hospital for medical evaluation. She noted that security operatives are intensifying efforts to apprehend the fleeing kidnappers.

“The rescue operation was conducted in collaboration with other sister security agencies and with the support of the community. Intensive efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing cultists/abductors,” she said.