Rivers Varsity suspends four students for mistreating a colleague

The Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt has suspended four of its students in connection with the brutal treatment of their colleague, Victor Tobins.

The institution announced that the four students, who are also officials of the Man ‘O’ War, have been suspended for one semester.

In a statement released on Saturday morning by the acting university registrar, Ms IBS Harry, it was said that the actions of the local security forces violated the university’s regulations.

The statement read: “This is to inform parents and the general public that the Management of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, at its meeting held on Friday, June 14, 2024, approved the suspension of the following students:

“Monsi Baridukaka Nwaaelibabari, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Victor Chibuike Daniel, Department of Animal Science, Ezems Ikechukwu Goodluck, Department of Electrical Engineering and Wilson Jacob Ree-Ugani, Department of Naval Engineering.

“The students who are members of Man O’ War have been suspended by the University administration for assaulting and causing physical injuries to Victor Tobin, a 300th year student of the Department of Sociology, in Dormitory F on the University campus on June 12, 2024.

“The administration considered that the conduct of the four students violated the university’s regulations and therefore approved their suspension for one academic semester.”

The school administration called on the students to live peacefully together.

The statement said: “The management urged the students to continue to live in peace and harmony and to conscientiously observe all the rules and regulations of the university.”

Our correspondent recalls that Man ‘O’ War officials beat Tobins black and blue and inflicted injuries on his right eye and other parts of his body in a matter yet to be resolved.

The Punch had reported that this development led to protests the following day (Thursday), with students storming the organisation’s office on campus and demanding that the school administration immediately expel them from the campus.

The protest reached a boiling point and led to the disruption of a meeting of the school administration, the student self-government and the local security service because of the latter’s actions.

It was only after the intervention of the Okpolu District Police in Mile Three, Port Harcourt and the Vice Chancellor that the situation was calmed down. The protesting students were assured that action would be taken within 24 hours.