Chaos erupted at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Rumuolumeni, Rivers State, on Monday as rival cult groups turned the campus into a battlefield. The conflict, which involved the Vikings and Clansmen confraternities, broke out during the university’s ongoing Students’ Union Government Week.
Terrified students were seen in widely shared online clips fleeing for cover as gunfire echoed across the grounds. The intensity of the confrontation forced an immediate shutdown of academic activities, with many students retreating to their hostels or locking themselves in classrooms to evade the violence. Zoyols News understands that while the situation was tense, there were no reported casualties.
Rights activist Charles Jaja expressed deep concern over the incident, arguing that the school management appears to have lost control of the campus. He urged the authorities to adopt more aggressive security strategies, suggesting they look to the past successes of neighboring institutions that effectively curbed cultism through strict enforcement and intelligence-driven security.
Prince Wiro, the National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, echoed these sentiments, noting that repeated clashes have become a recurring embarrassment for both the university and the state government. He warned that the ongoing instability threatens the institution’s reputation and could discourage parents from enrolling their children there. Wiro called on the state governor to intervene and mandate a total overhaul of the security architecture.
Responding to the disturbance, the state police command confirmed the clash between the rival gangs. Assistant Superintendent of Police Blessing Agabe clarified that their officers arrived promptly following distress calls to restore order. She emphasized that the police did not fire any shots during the operation, focusing instead on containing the situation and ensuring public safety. While the suspects managed to flee the scene before they could be apprehended, the police confirmed that a formal investigation is underway to track down those responsible.
