Chinedu Wosu
Port Harcourt — Lecturers and students of University of Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, have urged the Rivers State Government to relocate the rehabilitation camp for the ex-militants cited in Aluu community for safety of the students.
The university community also alleged that the ex-militants on Monday raped over two female students and looted property belonging to the students after rampaging from the Rural Development Training Centre camp.
The repented militants over the weeks have been undergoing rehabilitation and re-socialization in "Man O War "camp in the community since they embraced amnesty and turn in their weapons.
The students and lecturers who stormed the Government House on Tuesday afternoon with over 10 buses said their lives were in danger, following the incessant rampaging of the militants.
The students' leader Mr. Amadi Solomon, who spoke on behalf of the students, said they are demanding the immediate relocation of the ex-militants camp from their school environment, because of the harm they have caused the students.
He explained that the ex-militants' protest on Monday paralyzed academic activities at the institution as both students and lecturers were humiliated by the lawless ex-militants.
The student spokesperson said the protest was to register their displeasure over the attitude of the ex-militants that humiliate the students, as well as dispossess them of their valuables.
They also said the ex-militants engaged the peaceful university campuses on heavy shooting, disrupting the academic atmosphere in the institution.
The ex-militants numbering over 400 on Monday barricaded major roads and entrances to institution and Aluu community while protesting the non payment of their monthly stipends by the state government.
The rampaging militants also looted foods and extorted money from motorists beat up motorcyclists plying the routes even as the attacks on civilians has created panic among the villagers.
The students who carried placards with various inscriptions such as "they raped our students, stole our laptops and other valuables", said the ex-militants that are camped in Aluu, near the UNIPORT campus, have raped their students and made them to live in fear in their campus.
Responding on behalf of the Rivers State Government, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Mr. Ogbonna Nwuke, said the government shared in the pain of the students and apologized to the students and the University community for what happened on Monday during the protest of the ex-militants.
Nwuke said the present state government believes in the rule of law and assured that the state government would investigate the incidence and ensure that culprits are brought to book.
He appealed to the students to go back to school, emphasising that the state government would ensure their safety as security operatives have been directed to ensure that no such scenario happens again.
The Commissioner said that despite the state government support for the amnesty programme, it would not allow the ex-militants to take laws into their hands, pointing out the state government joins the law-abiding ex-militants in their anguish over unpaid allowances, stressing however that they should be patient with the authorities.
He also warned ex-militants not accredited to be in the Aluu Camp to stay away from the area to avoid unpleasant consequences while assuring the law abiding ex-militants of government support to achieve total re-integration.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200911230786.html
