Gunshots Send Students Scampering as Alleged Cult Supremacy Fight Rocks Rivers University

Fear and confusion swept through the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) in Rumuolumeni, Rivers State, after gunshots rang out across the campus during festivities marking the institution’s annual Students’ Union Government (SUG) Week.

The incident triggered immediate chaos as students scampered for cover, with many locking themselves in lecture halls and hostel rooms to avoid stray bullets. Viral videos on social media showed fleeing students as gunfire echoed through the university grounds.

According to initial reports, the violence stemmed from a supremacy clash between two rival cult groups identified as the Vikings and Clansmen confraternities. Academic and social activities were temporarily suspended as security personnel moved in to secure the perimeter.

Confirming the incident, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, ASP Blessing Agabe, stated that police officers responded to a distress call and restored calm on campus. Agabe denied claims that officers fired weapons during the intervention, emphasizing that no lives were lost and that an investigation is underway to track down suspects who fled the scene.

However, the leadership of the student body presented a contrasting account of the event. SUG President Comrade Alex Onu rejected reports of an active cult war on campus, clarifying that the gunshot heard was fired into the air by responding police personnel to disperse non-students who had infiltrated the event grounds. He urged the public and media to avoid sensational reports capable of causing unnecessary fear among parents and students.

Reacting to the disturbance, Port Harcourt-based human rights activists called on the university management and state authorities to strengthen security arrangements, advocating for intelligence-led patrols to prevent future disruptions during major student gatherings.