A detachment of fierce-looking soldiers and policemen have sealed off Aluu, the host community of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) which early last Friday lynched four undergraduates of the school for allegedly stealing phone handsets and laptops.

The allegation has been widely discredited and the murder of Llyod Toku, Chiadikobi Biringa, Ugonna Obuzor and Tekena Elkanah has outraged Nigerians, sparking reprisal attacks by Nigerian students under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).  

The 48 hours ultimatum given by NANS to both the federal and Rivers State governments to fish out the killers of the students – all in 200 level as at the time of their murder – expires today. Yesterday, tension remained high in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State in South-South Nigeria, as many students refused to vacate UNIPORT in defiance of the school authorities, who shut the school two days ago following the NAN protest during which Vice Chancellor Prof. Joseph Ajienka was attacked with sachets of water and houses razed in Aluu.

Fearing for the worst, government yesterday afternoon sent soldiers and policemen to barricade roads leading in and out of Aluu.

The troops are “checking the few people and vehicles passing. The community has been deserted by the residents, especially the vigilance members, who allegedly killed the young men,” said a report this morning in The Nation.

The paper quoted Major Michael Etete, spokesman of the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, as describing the heavy deployment of soldiers and other security personnel as one of the proactive measures taken by the security agencies to quickly restore normalcy to the area.

On his part, Rivers police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam said the security men were there to protect lives and property of law-abiding citizens.

News Express reports that the Aluu monarch, Alhaji Hassan Walewa and 10 other arrested suspects were yesterday charged before a Port Harcourt High Court in connection with the murder of the UNIPORT 4. The Nigerian Government has vowed to get to the root of the matter amidst rising public anger.