Police launch manhunt after rescuing five abducted Rivers university students

The Rivers State Police Command has begun a manhunt for the gunmen who abducted five students of the Rivers State University (RSU), Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday.

The Command confirmed that the students—kidnapped from the university’s satellite campus in Emuoha Local Government Area—were rescued unharmed during a coordinated operation involving police tactical teams, other security agencies and local community support.

The abduction sparked panic on the Emuoha campus, prompting students to stage a protest demanding relocation to the main campus for safety.

Addressing the aggrieved students, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, announced the temporary closure of academic activities at the Emuoha campus and directed all students to vacate the premises.

In a statement on Wednesday, Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko said the victims—Prince London, Azubuike Kelechukwu, Elizabeth Aniete, Onyebuchi Precious and London Sampson—were rescued at Rumuodogo 2 community around 1 a.m. on December 4, 2025.

She added that the undergraduates had been taken to a hospital for medical evaluation, while efforts were ongoing to track and arrest the fleeing suspects believed to be members of a cult group.

“Intensive efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing cultists/abductors,” the statement read.

Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju assured that the Command would not relent until all culprits were apprehended and prosecuted.

He urged residents to remain calm and continue cooperating with security agencies, stressing that their safety remains a top priority.