The outrage trailing the murder, exactly a week ago, of four undergraduates of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) by the host community, Aluu, has gone beyond Nigeria to attract the attention of international bodies.

As a matter of fact, the international community has raised questions over how such a disaster could have happened, thus forcing the Nigerian government to take a deeper interest in unraveling the cause of the murder and to bring the perpetrators to book.

Speaking during a visit to Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State in Nigeria’s South-South, Prof. Ben Agwe, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), disclosed that the commission had received calls from the international community on the sad incident. He promised that the commission would monitor the trial of suspects arrested in connection with the extra-judicial killings to the very end and would ensure that justice is done in the case.

Prof. Agwe spoke after being briefed by the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Mohammed Ndabawa, on the progress being made in investigating the murder of Llyod Toku, Chiadikobi Biringa, Ugonna Obuzor and Tekena Elkanah for allegedly stealing phone handsets and laptops. 

The police boss had informed the visiting NHRC scribe that 11 persons, among them traditional head of Omuokiri-Aluu community, Chief Alhaji Hassan Walewa have been arraigned at the High Court in Port Harcourt over the heinous act.

Ndabawa, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Thomas Etomi, assured that the police would get t the root of the matter and would keep the NHRC abreast of developments in this regard.

As previously reported by News Express, Aluu has been sealed off by a detachment of soldiers and police after angry students mobilised by the National Association of Nigerian Students (see photo) invaded the village, razing houses and destroying property.