RSU Students Protest Alleged Assault by Man-O-War Officials, Calls for Disbandment of the Group

Students at Rivers State University in Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, staged a protest on Thursday against the alleged assault of their fellow student, Victor Tobin, by Man ‘O’ War officials.

Victor Tobin, a third-year Sociology student, reportedly walked on the pavement near the Man ‘O’ War office by Hostel F on Wednesday morning. This action allegedly angered the officials, who are said to have assaulted Tobin, resulting in injuries including a swollen right eye.

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The incident quickly spread across the campus, prompting students to gather at the Man ‘O’ War office on Thursday morning to demand answers. They condemned the assault and called for the disbandment of the Man ‘O’ War on campus, citing persistent human rights abuses.

One protesting student insisted that any offense should be dealt with by the appropriate authorities or the police, not through violence. He said, “This is a university and we are adults. If they feel that our colleague has committed any offence, the right thing to do so is to take him to the appropriate authority in the school or hand him over to the police. But subjecting him to such inhuman treatment is unacceptable. That is why we are protesting and we demand that the so-called Man ‘O’ War in RSU should be disbanded immediately. We will not tolerate them anymore.”

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The protest reportedly disrupted a meeting of the university’s management and the Students’ Union Government over the issue, as the students allegedly threatened to attack the personnel if they didn’t leave the campus. The police intervened to prevent further violence.

SUG President Abinye Pepple expressed his disapproval of the Man ‘O’ War’s actions and noted the frustration of the students. Pepple said, “Firstly, I have to express my complete displeasure with the Man O War for carrying out that brutal act on one of my students and understand the frustration of my students that protested today. I also called the Vice Chancellor last night and expressed my displeasure and he immediately set up a meeting with management, SUG and the Man ‘O’ War so we can have a fair hearing on the matter and a decision can be taken on the Man O War on campus."

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Pepple and the Vice Chancellor assured the student that a decision would be made in a meeting scheduled for Friday.

Acting Registrar Mrs. I. B. S. Harry confirmed the incident, stating that an emergency meeting had been held to investigate the matter. She assured that normalcy had been restored, lectures were ongoing, and the issue was receiving the necessary attention.