Three UNIPORT Students Arrested Over Cult-Related Violence

The President of the UNIPORT Students Union Government (SUG), Martins Azirindu, confirmed the incident and urged the university’s security to intensify efforts in maintaining peace.

Port Harcourt, Nigeria – The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of three University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) students allegedly involved in a violent clash between rival factions of a cult group within the institution.

The clash, which occurred on Thursday, reportedly broke out between splinter groups of the Vikings confraternity. Gunfire and machete attacks disrupted the peace on campus, with one student sustaining injuries from machete cuts and being rushed to the hospital for treatment.

According to reports, the violence was sparked by a supremacy battle over leadership within the cult group. The President of the UNIPORT Students Union Government (SUG), Martins Azirindu, confirmed the incident and urged the university’s security to intensify efforts in maintaining peace.

“A particular cult group known as the Vikings Confraternity has two factions. One faction attacked the other. But before things escalated further, school security, the police, and the Vice-Chancellor intervened, leading to the arrest of three individuals,” Azirindu stated.

He emphasized the importance of sensitization programs to educate students about the dangers of cultism, while also calling for regular security patrols and the clearing of bushy areas on campus that could serve as hideouts for criminal activity.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Friday, Dr. Sam Kpenu, spokesperson for the university, clarified that no casualties were recorded during the clash. He acknowledged the swift intervention of security forces and university management in preventing further escalation.

The statement read: “Contrary to some inaccurate media reports, no student was killed or seriously injured. The prompt actions of the Management, security unit, and the anti-cultism unit of the Nigeria Police led to the arrest of the individuals involved. The situation was swiftly brought under control.”

It added that the arrested students are currently undergoing interrogation at the Nigeria Police headquarters in Port Harcourt.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Owunari Georgewill, personally oversaw the resolution of the matter and reiterated the institution’s zero-tolerance policy towards cultism and disruptive behavior. The university assured the public that the campus remains calm, with academic activities continuing as usual.

The State Police Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrests and stated that investigations are ongoing.