Despite reports and several videos that have gone viral on social media, the management of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, has declared that there was no clash between rival cult groups in the main campus of the university at Rumuolumeni in Port Harcourt.
The university’s public relations officer, Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, also said no casualties was recorded during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Students’ Week of the institution.
Okiridu said, “During the Students’ Week activities at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education IAUE Rumuolumeni Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria yesterday (Monday August 10, 2026), security agents, the Police to be precise, were deployed on ground for crowd control and to ensure the safety of students.
“This is a standard practice at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education due to the history of hoodlums attempting to take advantage of such large gatherings to cause violence and attacks.
“Throughout the day, order was maintained. Firearms were only considered as a last resort in situations when the lives of students were assessed to be at risk.
“There were no casualties recorded. No students or persons were killed or injured during the activities. There was also no cult clash or related activity.”
However, the statement was contrary to the position of the Rivers State Police Command, which confirmed that there was a cult clash between two rival cult groups in the university’s main campus.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Blessing Agabe, in a statement earlier on Tuesday, said the police responded promptly to the incident and successfully brought the situation under control.
The statement reads, “The police responded promptly and arrived at the scene in good time, successfully bringing the situation under control. No shots were fired by the police, as the officers only took proportionate measures necessary to contain and arrest the situation.
“No lives were lost. However, members of the groups fled the scene, while investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend those involved.”
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