…As UNIPORT declares 7-day mourning
From CHRIS ANUCHA, Port Harcourt
Omuokiri village in Aluu Clan, where four students of the University of Port Harcourt were murdered is now a graveyard, as residents are fleeing the area for fear of being arrested by security agents.
A visit to the area, which was about three kilometres to the University of Port Harcourt, portrayed an image of a tension-soaked environment. Most people had fled their homes, while a couple of others, who were still hanging around yesterday, kept safe distance from strange faces. Others quickly locked their doors as soon as they sighted strangers, to avoid arrest, as according to them, it was difficult to distinguish between civilians and the security men in mufti. They told Daily Sun how security agents stormed the community and arrested people indiscriminately, and still warming up to come for more arrests.
One of the residents, who spoke to Daily Sun on the condition of anonymity, condemned the mass arrest of residents of the community by the security agents. Another reason that made residents to desert the community was the fear of possible reprisal attack from the students of the University of Port Harcourt. But the President of the Student Union, Maxwell Soye Nyamabo, allayed the fear.
He told Daily Sun that the student had been told to remain calm and allow security agencies to do their duties. According to Nyamabo, the Student Union Week, which was billed to start yesterday, had been suspended indefinitely. “Injury to one, is injury to all, we have suspended the Students Union Week, to mourn our colleagues,” Nyamabo said. Meanwhile, the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt had declared seven-day mourning for the murdered students.
The University also ordered that the national flag should fly at half-mast. Also, identities of the students had been made public by UNIPORT authorities. They are, Biringa Chiadika Lordson, a second-year theatre arts student, with Matriculation Number U2010/1805036, Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor, also a year two geology student with Matriculation Number U2010/5565149 and Mike Lloyd Toku, year two civil engineering students, with Matriculation Number U2010/3010094.
The fourth person, Tekena Erikena, was yet to be identified as a student of the University of Port Harcourt, but information had it that he was a student of school of basic studies. Addressing newsmen yesterday at the Governing Council Chambers, Senate Building, UNIPORT, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ajienka, said the University was mourning the death of the students. According to him, the university had been working in concert with the Nigeria Police and other security agencies, to unravel the circumstances that led to the killing of the four students.
He explained that the lynching of the students took place outside the jurisdiction of the university, adding that the university bore no responsibility for security outside the campus, even as it accepts the fact that students live and commute to the campus from some of the host communities, including Aluu.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Ajienka also explained that students and staff, who wish to reside in any of the host communities, did not usually consult the university. “Omuokiri, Aluu Community where the incident reportedly took place is about three kilometres outside the university.
Because the incident took place outside the university, where it has no jurisdiction, it would be prejudicial to on-going investigations for authorities of the university to issue independent statements on the issue, without cooperation from such agencies, which are in the forefront of the investigation. “As it is to be expected under the circumstance in which we now found ourselves, the university is in a mourning mood in honour of the murdered students.
Also, the ongoing 2012 Student Union Week was to commence this morning (Yesterday) has been put off immediately. Flags are already being flown at half mast as a mark of honour to the deceased students,” the VC further said. Professor Ajienka, appealed to the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book and also unravel the exact circumstance surrounding the unfortunate incident.
He said: “In as much as we condemn all forms of criminality, the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt wish to state in unequivocal terms, that nobody has the right to engage in extra-judicial killing or resort to self-help, no matter the level of provocation. Whatever was the grievance(s) of the lynch mob should have been promptly reported to the relevant law enforcement agencies, than resorting to the law of the jungle.” He also commended the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, for his timely intervention that prevented the issue from degenerating into war.
The vice chancellor also commended the students for what he described as their maturity and understanding and the security agencies for prompt arrest of some of the suspects.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State police command said the area where the incident occurred last Friday morning was calm. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ben Ugwuegbulam said the command had reached out to all the parties concerned. He said security men would continue to patrol the area to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.
Well my comment here is that if this matter is allowed to die without bringing the pepertrators to swift and equal justice then the souls of those boys will never rest in peace! They will forever torment their killers and all those who are in a position to act but have in the name of “keeping the peace”, choose to fold their hands. This is war! Nobody should have to die in such a calous manner, even if they stole a laptop! Aren’t we all thieves in Nigera already? I suggest these boys should have their names immortalised through street/road, hostels, named after them(even within the evil community), so they may be never forgotten and to remind children who would grow up there later about what their fathers did and never again shud such happen.
This is a sad and painful story, why should people take to jungle justice in this 21st century?
In as much as what the villagers did was wrong. we all should condemned the action of the students as well. their wards sent them to school so that they will better for their selves at the end of the day and not go and start learning how to bad guys after. what are doing inside bush with weapon and Indian hemp? Armed robber is an armed robber weather student or not.
good lesson to others of their that will leave what they were sent for and turn to another in the of cult. they should rest in hell.
This is outrageous and unbelievable.
Dr Martin Luther King Jr once said “Through violence you may murder a murderer,
but you can’t murder murder.
Through violence you may murder a liar,
but you can’t establish truth.
Through violence you may murder a hater,
but you can’t murder hate.
Darkness cannot put out darkness.
Only light can do that…”
The people that brutally and in such a inhumane murdered the 4 university students have done nothing to ward off evil but in their callous and barbaric jungle justice have demonstrated that they are nothing but harbingers of death.
Taken lives of fellow human beings in such a calculated coldness and alacrity can only confirmed what the scripture says that in the end “the love of many shall wax cold” Matt. 24:4-12.
The federal government of Nigeria with the police must bring the perpetrators of these heinous crime to justice.
Let us all rise and pray for our youths that our tomorrow shall not plunged into dark oblivion. Pastor David Sadiq. United Kingdom
3kilometer is not short distance so the students are thieves. student government should forget about the case
well the truth is that what will save that community is if the hopless Nigerian Police fish out the killers,or else the matter wount die bcs that community will reap bountifully what they have sowed.And woe betide them if at all any of those guys have affinity with fraternity hmm: there case will better be imagined bcs I know it will be a perpetual war.
The perpetrators of this dastardly acts must be fish out and brought to book period.
I don’t know any of those guys but i just couldn’t eat or sleep well last night after watching that horrific video, i can still see their faces especially chidiaka’s face(when he was hit by that dog that called himself a vigilante member). Here is my verdict. I am tired of hearing stuffs like “13 people have been caught”. The only story that will at least gladden my heart is to see the whole village sacked, the lands should be taken from them and handed over to the family of the victims( I understand Aluu people love lands) and named after those boys as a compensation or better still taken by the government and converted into a cemetery.I want all the faces of those animals pasted all the country for at least a year. Finally, it is now time to see the so called Human right activists pick up this case and clamor for justice without taking as little as a nap until JUSTICE… i mean REAL JUSTICE is done and in public. Their PARENTS must not rest, UNIPORT must not rest, NANS must not rest, MOTHERS must not rest, NIGERIAN YOUTHS must NOT rest,anybody with human blood flowing in his veins and arteries MUST not rest, Mr PRESIDENT i know you have not lost your HUMANITY you MUST not rest too. Let us redeem our Humanity in this part of the world. It must not continue to be a DARK continent……… God I feel like just running out of this country to somewhere ….just anywhere human lives can be held in better esteem. I just can’t stop bleeding in my heart. ALUU community to HELL with all of you,Pathological illiterate land-lovers, go get some education and civility you barbarians, but this time in should be in exile.
I don’t know any of those guys but i just couldn’t eat or sleep well last night after watching that horrific video, i can still see their faces especially chidiaka’s face(when he was hit by that dog that called himself a vigilante member). Here is my verdict. I am tired of hearing stuffs like “13 people have been caught”. The only story that will at least gladden my heart is to see the whole village sacked, the lands should be taken from them and handed over to the family of the victims( I understand Aluu people love lands) and named after those boys as a compensation or better still taken by the government and converted into a cemetery.I want all the faces of those animals pasted all the country for at least a year. Finally, it is now time to see the so called Human right activists pick up this case and clamor for justice without taking as little as a nap until JUSTICE… i mean REAL JUSTICE is done and in public. Their PARENTS must not rest, UNIPORT must not rest, NANS must not rest, MOTHERS must not rest, NIGERIAN YOUTHS must NOT rest,anybody with human blood flowing in his veins and arteries MUST not rest, Mr PRESIDENT i know you have not lost your HUMANITY you MUST not rest too. Let us redeem our Humanity in this part of the world. It must not continue to be a DARK continent……… God I feel like just running out of this country to somewhere ….just anywhere human lives can be held in better esteem. I just can’t stop bleeding in my heart. ALUU community to HELL with all of you,Pathological illiterate land-lovers, go get some education and civility you barbarians, but this time it should be in exile.
Haba 9ja! No respect 4 human life again. Everybody hv turn to boko haram.
Its so painful 2 hrt. May God qve their respectve families d fortitude 2 bear d lost.
I trust Nigeria Police they will get all the perpetrator without living one person, they may run but at end police will get them. Even myself merely watching the video i knew people to look for in that fucking village. And I will advice the student to vacate the town once the issue is been settle.
May God protect us from blood sucking spirit in Jesus name (amen)
This is an unjust killing that violate human right,the killers of this innocent and future leaders of Nigeria,must make to face the wrath of the law!
Aluta Spirit must prevail over those that murdered his ward’s,on Aluta I stand.
I am sure this didn’t happen in seconds that security agents or even the university authority couldn’t have intervene.Cant imaging the pain their parents are going through.What ever is done now cant bring these boys back.May God avenge their death.My heartfelt symphaty to their families
Even at what happened, there are still the innocent ones. I therefore ask the police to do a thorough job and let the innocent go. The entire village may not just be involved in that. Some may have refused to condemned the act instantly for fear of not been linked with them….don’t you think so?
Even at what happened, there are still the innocent ones. I therefore ask the police to do a thorough job and let the innocent go. The entire village may not just be involved in that. Some may have refused to condemned the act instantly for fear of not been linked with them….don’t you think so? Let the culprits be made to face the law
Despite all the churches (night vigils,prayer and fasting,holy ghost fires…) Mosques ( five times a day prayer, ramadan…) Babalawos (sacrifices, incantations…) going on in Nigeria daily, why is it that there is still total wickedness all over the land?
This is just horrifically pathetic! Even if they really and truly stole the items in question the death sentence wasn’t deserving.
what a baberic and senseless act,who ill want to send his ward to a nigeria university outside the shore of this country???what a bad image to the international communities.
Life in Nigeria has become so cheap that people takes it at will May all might God have mercy on us.
S
So painful…. students should vacate the entire community. They make lots of money from the student to help their families.Imagine the crude jungle justice. The killers must be must face the law.
So painful…. students should vacate the entire community. They make lots of money from the student to help their families.Imagine the crude jungle justice. The killers must face the law.
The community should pay 4 de souls.
this is absorbed
@Osas very good point but the reason is that nigerians only go to church to ask God to give them money and not a repentant heart! Even armed robbers go to church to ask God to make their operation a success, politicians loot and go to church to ask for more blessings while they make the pastors/priests worship them! Even the pastors don’t preach repentance for fear of losing their congregation(who by the way rakes in the cash/gift donations). Pastors only preach about how to make money and translate every portion of the bible to money making tutorials. Who are we deceiving?? God is watching! Evil nation, few good people!
These are perilous times as we need to pray for a transformed heart in the land.Don’t forget that Aluu is in greater Port Harcourt.Knowing that this is the plan of devil to keep people away from this new Rivers State city hence the need for prayers for our Nation.
May God hv mercy on d people of ds world even if they stole 4rm u must it be like dis?killin some of our future leaders,taken laws into our own hand nt thinkin abt d wrk of a police n our country.all i need s total justice cos non of those villagers could swear dat they vnt stolen b4 welther big or small.
it’s a vry painful story, please i’m asking police to make sure they get dose idolt’s…they deserve to be stone to death
All those who were involved in this gruesome murder of these young brains shall not know peace…their families and generations yet unborn shall not know peace…AMEN.
This is beyond cruelty!
I still can’t believe that South South can be this heartless even when their son was involved they still had the mind to mob and lynch this 4 innocent and promising young students to death in the name of stealing phones and laptop, even if it is true they stole lap top, are they suppose to die that way?
Where were the police men in that community when this jungle justice was taking place? After South south ill complain they re being marginalised, We re
victim of our own misfortune,
Even Boko Haram has not been this cruel in their killing yet we condemn them everyday!
Until justice is served, Aluu community ill never see peace, their children ill die a painful death as well!
This students could be me it also be you,
in Tears I Conclude As I play One Of Their Song ‘aint no love in the heart of the City!
RIP brothers!!!
Reprisal attack would not be immediate, they say revenge would be more bloody.
i was a past student of uniport and all throuh my years my residence has been in omokiri in aluu and i can tell u that does babarians are anti-student. Every year in that omokiri aluu road its as if they sacrifice students through road accidents.i could also remember an incident when my neighbour a fellow student was packin out, my landlord and his bastard sons beat him up with rod just becos he did not tell them that he was vacating their building,not to talk about their other atrocities.i dont know why aluta spirit is no longer amongst student.boko haram aluu should be under fire and brimestone.
Surely, d heart of man s desperately wicked. Dis s gross inhumanity 2 a defenceless soul. Justice must b done!
even if they r cristian am not happy at all this is sign of barbarism ignorance bush people.may God help u in good direction in ur life ameen becouse u r enjoying ignorance i hav 2 pray 4 u pple
My thoughts first of all are with the family of the deceased. May the Lord give them the strength and fortitude to bear the loss of their bright young loved ones.
Their brutal killing is barbaric and unacceptable in a country with rules and regulations. The perpetrators of this callous act must be put away in prison for the rest of their lives without parole. People just go to the Church and Mosque to worship fooling themselves in this failed state. Where is the obedience to the word of God ( ”Thou shall not kill”). God cannot be mocked, these lunatics that murdered this young students have only mocked themselves because nobody gets away with murder. If they do not face justice in this lawless and disorganized society or country called Nigeria they will surely face the wrath of God. May the soul of the bright young guys rest in peace.
i do not see any reason why those students should be treated in that form, considering the fact that they are children to parents.they should not have taken the law into their hands, rather leave it for the law, who knows their children or relation might also fall into the same shoes of these students,then what becomes of them if there own children is being treated in this form
Commentators are not sincere, if this had happened in the north they’d have been shouting Islam now should we say the christians did this now?
foolish commentators God help you all
gaskiya dis is wickedness, this boys suffered death and did nt jst die, well God knows why sha
God, why have u forseeken us in this so-called Nigeria? Why have u abondoned yr children in the hands of evil men? God why not sent yr angels to destroy that community like what you did with pple of Sodom & Gomorrah? God, we are looking up to you in taken vengence b/cos u said that vengence is yours and we’re eargally waiting. Our women & mothers are crying for what is happening in Nigeria, and they need yr intervention not the so-called government of fresh air.
the students were nt murdered by a mob,they were killed by a uniformed vigilante group empowered by the elders of the community.i suggest that both the traditional rulers and the vigilante should be prosecuted openly and urgently.
Oga IG, where were your men?. It is only N20 @ road blocks they know how to collect. And to Aluu community, it is clear that civilisation is far from you. I just pity the perpetrators, cos God will judge them.
Well, It’s only GOD dat will pay beck dis weaked act.
No mater wat eva dis young souls have done, they dnt deserve to be killed like dat…their future has just being ruined..dis wud have nt happened to them if they knew christ.may their souls rest in peace Amen!!