PRE-DEGREE/CERTIFICATE REGISTRATION/SCHOOL FEES

SITUATION REPORT ON THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED AT OMUOKIRI VILLAGE IN ALUU CLAN, IKWERRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA ON FRIDAY, 5TH OCTOBER, 2012

On the morning of Friday, 5^th October, 2012, the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt received very disturbing information about the lynching of four (4) unidentified persons by an irate mob at Omuokiri village in Aluu Clan—about three kilometres away from the main Campus of the University.

The four dead young men were finally identified as students of the University of Port Harcourt. They are:

*Biringa Chiadika Lordson (Year Two, Theatre Arts) U2010/1805036

*Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor (Year Two, Geology) U2010/5565149

*Mike Lloyd Toku (Year Two, Civil Engr) U2010/3010094  

*Tekena Elkanah (Certificate Programme Student in the Faculty of Education)

 The authorities of the University of Port Harcourt have been working in concert with the Nigeria Police and other security agencies in their investigations to unravel the circumstances that led to the killing of the four men. Some suspects have been arrested and charged to court, while investigations are continuing on the killings. 

To those who are understandably anxious for further updates on this horrendous crime, the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt wish to state as follows:

1. The reported lynching of the four men took place outside the jurisdiction of the University
2. The University bears no responsibility for security outside the Campus, even as it accepts the fact that students live and commute to the Campus from some of its host communities—including Aluu
3. The University is also not usually consulted by students and staff wishing to reside in any of our host communities
4. Aluu Community where the incident reportedly took place is about three kilometres outside the University
5. Because the incident took place outside the University where it has no jurisdiction, it would be prejudicial to ongoing 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 investigations

As is to be expected under the sad circumstance in which we now find ourselves, the University is in a mourning mood in honour of the murdered students. Also, the ongoing 2012 Student Union Week which was to have commenced this morning has been put off indefinitely. Flags are already being flown at half mast as a mark of honour to the deceased students of the University.  

Meanwhile, pre-emptive security measures have been initiated by authorities of the University to secure lives and property on Campus. The situation on Campus is stable, as joint security patrol teams have taken charge of the affected areas and are also providing security within the Campus.

We wish to use this opportunity to reassure staff, students and other stakeholders that the University remains open, very safe and discharging its core mandate of teaching, research and community service in a satisfactory manner. We seek cooperation and understanding from the Mass Media in these difficult times to ensure the supremacy of truth over the rumour mill which has understandably been very active since the unfortunate incident was reported. 

We wish to appeal to security agencies to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to book and also unravel the exact circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident. 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, rather than resorting to the law of the jungle which is at variance with the norms of a civilized society.

Finally, we wish to thank the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for his timely intervention that prevented the issue from boiling over. We also thank the security agencies for promptly arresting some suspects in connection with the killings in Aluu. We hope that such a horrendous incident will NEVER happen in any part of Nigeria again.

JOSEPH A. AJIENKA

Vice-Chancellor

Monday, 8^th October, 2012

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