October 9, 2012  by Chukwudi Akasike, Port Harcourt 36 Comments

THE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph Ajienka, said on Monday that the institution had begun a seven-day mourning of the killings of their students by a mob.

Ajienka, who said this shortly after identifying three among the deceased as students of the university, said the flags were already being flown at half mast as a mark of honour to the slain students.

Speaking with newsmen at the university, the vice-chancellor also explained that the Students’ Union Week, which was to begin on Monday (yesterday), had been put off indefinitely.

He said, “As is to be expected under the sad circumstance in which we now find ourselves, the university is in a mourning mood in honour of the murdered students.

“As a result, the 2012 Students’ Union Week, which was to have commenced this morning, has been put off indefinitely. Flags are already being flown at half mast as a mark of honour to the deceased students of the university.

Ajienka identified the slain students as Biringa Chidiaka Lordson (Year 2, Theatre Arts), Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor (Year 2, Geology) and Mike Lloyd Toku (Year 2, Civil Engineering).

He stated the fourth person, Tekena Erikena, had not been formally identified as a bonafide member of the institution, saying, “Erikena did Basic Studies, but we need to confirm his department and matriculation number.”

He added that pre-emptive security measures had been initiated by authorities of the institution to secure lives and property on campus, adding that a joint security patrol team had taken charge of the affected area.

The vice-chancellor, however, condemned the killings, pointing out that nobody had the right to engage in extra judicial killing or resort to self-help, no matter the level of provocation.

“Whatever was the grievance(s) of the mob, the students should have been promptly reported to the relevant law enforcement agencies, than resorting to the law of the jungle,” Ajienka stated.

Ajienka thanked the students for their maturity and understanding in handling the matter, even as he expressed gratitude to Nigerians for showing concern over the murder of the students.-punch

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