On Thursday, hundreds of students from Rivers State University in Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, protested the alleged brutalisation of a colleague by Man ‘O’ War officials at the institution.
It was unclear what the offence of the 300-level Sociology student known as Victor Tobin was, but it was learned that he strolled on the sidewalk of the Man ‘O’ War office near Hostel F on campus on Wednesday morning, which enraged some of the crew.
It was gathered that while the undergraduate inquired about his offence, they proceeded to beat him and inflicted injuries on the student, resulting in a cut and swollen right eye.
On Thursday morning, news of the student’s battering went around campus, and his colleagues gathered at the Man O War office to question why Tobin was exposed to such human rights violations, resulting in a protest.
The protesting students stated that they would not stay and witness any of their colleagues being manhandled for any reason, and they requested the immediate disbandment of the institution’s local security force for what they described as outrageous human rights violations.
One of the students, who did not give his name, stated, “This is a university, and we are adults.” If they feel that our colleague has committed any offence, the right thing to do so is to take him to the appropriate authority in the school or hand him over to the police.
“But subjecting him to such inhuman treatment is unacceptable. That is why we are protesting and we demand that the so-called Man ‘O’ War in RSU should be disbanded immediately. We will not tolerate them anymore.”
The protest was stated to have disrupted a meeting between the university’s administration and the Students’ Union Government over the matter, with the students threatening to attack the personnel if they did not leave campus.
The protest reached a fever pitch as students attempted to attack Man O War personnel before the police came and calmed the situation, preventing a collapse in law and order.
Speaking with newsmen, the President of the Student Union, Abinye Pepple, said he got wind of the incident through one of the students and condemned the action of the Man O War,
Pepple said, “Firstly, I have to express my complete displeasure with the Man O War for carrying out that brutal act on one of my students and understand the frustration of my students that protested today.
“I also called the Vice Chancellor last night and expressed my displeasure and he immediately set up a meeting with management, SUG and the Man ‘O’ War so we can have a fair hearing on the matter and a decision can be taken on the Man O War on campus.
“That meeting was abruptly halted when we got wind of the protest and had to rush down there to restore order to our peaceful and loving students who were simply displeased with the act carried out on one of their own.
“Myself and the VC addressed the students and the VC assured the students that a decision will be made tomorrow (Friday) morning in another meeting that has been scheduled. Our peaceful students eventually dispersed back to their respective classrooms and calm has been restored.”
While noting that though the claims of the Man O War contradicted the story of the brutalised student, he said the VC had intervened, saying, “As a father to us and as responsible students, we await his decision after the meeting on Friday.”
Meanwhile, the Acting Registrar of the institution, Mrs. I. B. S. Harry, in a statement on Thursday confirmed the attack on the student, saying management had convened an emergency meeting with the students’ leadership and the accused personnel to get to the root of the matter.
Harry corroborated the views of the SUG President that normalcy has been restored, adding that lectures are ongoing and assured parents and guardians that the matter was receiving adequate attention.
The statement read, “This is to inform parents and the general public that on Wednesday, 12th June, 2024, there was a misunderstanding between some students and members of the Man O’ War at Hostel F in the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, which resulted in physical injury on a student on campus.
“In order to resolve the misunderstanding and avert further action, the university Management promptly held an emergency meeting on Thursday 13th June, 2024 with the Executives of the Students Union Government and the Man O’ War, to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the problem.
“The university management intends to hold another meeting tomorrow, Friday, 14th June 2024 to meet with those involved, but were not present at today’s meeting to finally resolve the issue.
“We assure parents and guardians that the matter has been brought under control and lectures are ongoing. Students are therefore advised to go about their lawful activities on Campus.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she was yet to get an official report on the incident from the Divisional Police Officer.