Five students of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, who were abducted from the institution’s satellite campus in Emuoha Local Government Area on Tuesday, have been released.
The incident had caused widespread panic among students, prompting a protest during which they demanded relocation to the main campus for safety. In response, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, announced the temporary closure of academic activities at the Emuoha campus and directed students living there to vacate the premises.
Confirming the development on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the five students were rescued unhurt during an operation carried out at Rumuodogo 2 by police tactical teams working with other security agencies.
In a statement, Iringe-Koko said the rescued undergraduates—one of whom is female—have been taken to the hospital for medical evaluation, adding that efforts are underway to apprehend the kidnappers.
The statement reads: “Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform the public that on 04/12/2025 at about 0100hrs, the five abducted victims — Prince London ‘M’, Azubuike Kelechukwu ‘M’, Elizabeth Aniete ‘F’, Onyebuchi Precious ‘M’, and London Sampson ‘M’ — who were abducted by yet-to-be-identified cultists from their isolated residences, have been successfully rescued unhurt.
“The rescue operation was conducted at Rumuodogo 2 Community in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State by the Command’s Tactical Teams, in collaboration with other sister security agencies and with the support of the community.
“The rescued victims have been taken to the hospital for medical examination.
“Intensive efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing cultists/abductors.”