- Students of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, resident in a lodge in the Alakahia area of the state have yet to get over the shock resulting from a robbery attack on the facility.The students were jolted on Thursday when about 30 assailants reportedly armed with cutlasses and guns stormed the lodge around 2am, dispossessing residents of their valuables.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that the robbers went round with a PoS forcing students, who did not have cash, to use their Automated Teller Machine cards to do credit transfers.
It was gathered that the robbers operated unhindered as policemen at a nearby police station reportedly failed to show up after a distress call was put across to them.
A Twitter user, with the alias Light, shared the incident on her Twitter handle, @Hisroyaldopenex, on Thursday and tagged the Nigeria Police.
“A friend of mine just reached out to me that armed robbers numbering about 30, armed with guns and a PoS just finished robbing her lodge in Alakahia, UNIPORT, a few minutes ago. They called the police and as usual, they didn’t turn up.
“The police picked their call because it was a lady that called, but kept mute when she mentioned armed robbers. We really have to do better in this country. I’m sure those guys are still out there operating without any resistance,” Light tweeted.
Another Twitter user, Prince K’Challa, @KolaShango, stated that Alakahia used to be safe when he was in UNIPORT, adding that there is a police station close to the lodge.
“Alakahia no longer has vigilantes; plus the attacks are carried out by indigenes. I just feel like these guys pay their dues and so they are never disturbed. SARS men are always around the school gate searching for young boys but can’t get to Alakahia that’s just one minute away. Sad,” another commentator, with alias, Warrified, wrote.