By Emma Sunday
Operatives of the Rumuolumeni local vigilante group known as OSPAC, have arrested one suspect in connection with the shooting of a 100-level student at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, IAUE, as cult violence on the Rivers State-owned campus continues to escalate.
The suspect, identified as Mr. Smith, was apprehended by OSPAC operatives led by Commander Kenneth Olumeni on Wednesday. A Toyota Corolla allegedly linked to the suspects, with registration number BAYELSA NEM-425AE, was also recovered.
The arrest came hours after gunmen reportedly shot the student, simply identified as Somina, on the main campus at Rumuolumeni, barely 48 hours after suspected members of the Vikings and Klu Klux Klan cult groups engaged in a prolonged gun battle on the same campus.
Sources close to the victim told our correspondent that bullet pellets were lodged in Somina’s body. He was rushed to hospital, with course mates said to have contributed money for his surgery.
While it could not be independently verified whether the student was linked to any cult group, a source alleged he may have been a victim of mistaken identity.
Videos circulating online showed course mates carrying the injured student across the university premises, and in another clip, he was seen on a bed in an undisclosed hospital.
The shooting threw the university management into disarray and triggered conflicting directives that further heightened tension on campus.
Through the Registrar, Dr. Chinonye Ajie, the institution on Wednesday first announced the suspension of all remaining activities for the ongoing Students’ Union Government, SUG, Week, citing security concerns.
In the same circular, the management directed students to return to classes on Thursday, August 13, 2026, for normal academic activities and warned that absentees would be held responsible.
The statement also urged students to shun any act capable of disrupting academic activities or threatening the peace and security of the institution.
However, hours later, the Registrar issued another statement reversing the suspension and announcing that SUG Week activities would continue as scheduled.
The back-and-forth directives sparked criticism and backlash from students, parents and members of the public, who accused the management of confusion and indecisiveness in the face of escalating violence.
“This is not the time for trial and error. Students’ lives are at stake,” a parent who spoke to our correspondent said.
The latest incident comes two days after the reported clash between Vikings and KKK cultists, which disrupted lectures and forced students and staff to scamper for safety.
Sources within the campus said the latest rivalry marks a shift from the frequent confrontations previously recorded between Vikings and Black Axe members in the institution.
According to a student who pleaded anonymity, both groups allegedly imported “foreign” members ahead of the earlier clash in a bid to assert dominance and control territory within the university.
The recurring cult violence has heightened fears among students and staff, with calls for the university management and security agencies to take decisive action to restore order.
As of the time of filing this report, the Rivers State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the latest shooting or confirmed the arrest made by ASPAC.
The Command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, had earlier confirmed the Monday’s cult clash and said investigations were ongoing to identify and apprehend those involved.
Stakeholders have urged the university management, security agencies, local vigilantes and student leaders to collaborate to curb cult activities and guarantee the safety of students on campus.
