RismadarVoice Reporters, August 11, 2026
The Rivers State Police Command has clarified reports of a suspected cult clash at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Rivers State, on Monday, August 10, 2026.
The Police Command said the incident was a clash between two suspected cult groups, adding that its personnel responded promptly and brought the situation under control.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, said the police arrived at the scene in good time and took proportionate measures to contain the situation.
Kaborlo also denied reports that police officers fired shots during the incident, saying no shots were fired by the police.
According to her, no life was lost in the clash, while members of the suspected groups fled the scene before they could be apprehended.
She said an investigation had commenced to identify and arrest those involved in the incident.
Earlier, RismadarVoice Reporters gathered that the President of the Students’ Union Government of IAUE, Comrade Alex Onu, had dismissed reports that suspected cultists engaged in a gun battle on the university premises as misleading and sensational.
Onu said the only gunshot reportedly heard within the institution was allegedly fired by the police into the air to disperse some unknown persons who had entered the university during the ongoing SUG Week celebration.
He maintained that the individuals were not armed and that there was no exchange of gunfire between them and the police or other security personnel.
The SUG president said students continued to participate in SUG Week activities throughout the day, with programmes reportedly continuing peacefully until about 7 p.m.
He cautioned against sensational reporting, warning that exaggerated accounts of incidents within the institution could create unnecessary panic among students, parents, staff and members of the public.
Onu also commended the university management for its efforts to strengthen security within the institution and assured students that the SUG would continue to work with management and security agencies to maintain peace.
The Police Command’s clarification, however, established that the incident involved a clash between two suspected cult groups, while investigations continue into the identities and activities of those involved.
