Blockade of UNIPORT Gate: National Association of University Students issue a 24 hour ultimatum to Police

Daniel Efe/Port Harcourt

National Association of University Students has issued a 24 hour ultimatum to the Nigeria Police, Choba Division to remove controversial blockage that is causing traffic gridlock close to the UNIPORT gate.

In a press statement Signed by Najeem Abayomi, Deputy National Secretary General(DSG), National Association of University students(NAUS)condemned the Attack on the Dean of Student Affairs and the President Students’ Union Government, SUG, of the University of Port Harcourt on Friday by Nigerian Police, Choba Division, Rivers State.

The students regretted that the blockade by the Police, Choba Division, was going to cause traffic jam, especially on the forthcoming matriculation slated for Tuesday February 1,2022.

The students recalled that blockade was done during the period when there were killing of police officers, which led to the blockage of the turning point opposite the Police station (Choba Division) for more than a year by the Nigerian Police, Choba Division.

” It is very important for the Nigerian Students and the public to know that the Dean Of Students’ Affairs of the prestigious University of Port Harcourt had dialogue with the Police officers of the said station to get the blockage removed from the turning point on two different occasions. The blockage is always the cause of road traffic on the East-West road, which is the major road to the University. Several road accidents has occurred in that same road as a result of the blockage.
“Due to the upcoming matriculation event for the newly admitted students of the institution, that will be taking place on Tuesday, 1st of February, 2022, the Dean Students Affairs Dr. Chima Wokocha and the Student’s Union Executives led by the SUG President, Gift Ubabike, had intervened that the blockage should be removed before the matric to avoid hold up and lock up during the matriculation period”.

The students regretted that despite past appeals and engagements the Police went ahead to arrest the Dean of Students’ Affairs and the SUG President of UNIPORT after beating two of them and some students like common criminals, they even threatened to gun down one of our student for recording the scene.

They stated that the Dean of Students’ Affairs and the SUG President of UNIPORT were released after the intervention of the Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday, and the Deputy Chief Security Officer of the University of Port Harcourt.

The students lamented despite the peaceful engagements concerning the vexatious blockade unpleasant the Police in (Choba Division) still maintain the status quo that the blockage will not be removed.

The students recalled the painful of one of their gallant students, the Late Peter Ofurum, that was shot by Nigeria Police, the event of which is still fresh.

“To avoid the anger of Nigerian Students, we are giving the Nigerian Police (Choba Division) 24 hours ultimatum to do the needful and remove the blockage.
Injury to one is injury to all”, Abayomi.