Security concerns are mounting in tertiary institutions in Rivers State as rival cult groups engage in supremacy battle on campuses.
Our correspondent learnt that the skirmishes started last week at the Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, but was contained by the polytechnic authorities and security agencies.
However, reports suggest that the leaders of the two groups that clashed in Bori Polytechnic may have declared war on each other and given directives to their members in other campuses to do likewise.
This may be what triggered the clash at the Rivers State University of Education, Rumuolumeni, as the students union was having it’s annual Week Celebration on Monday.
It was learnt that suspected cultists took over the institution, exchanging gunfire in a school that is not located in a remote village and held on for about 20 minutes without the intervention of security operatives.
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Some observers blamed the university’s management for not being proactive to anticipate such an ugly development in a week of intense students activities with a view to providing adequate security on campus.
The spokesperson of the state police command, ASP Blessing Agabe in a statement on Tuesday, described the incident as a clash between two cult groups.
She said the police responded promptly and arrived at the scene in good time, successfully bringing the situation under control.
“No shots were fired by the police, as the officers only took proportionate measures necessary to contain and arrest the situation.
“No lives were lost. However, members of the groups fled the scene, while investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend those involved” the police spokesperson stated.
