A 100-level student was reportedly shot two days after rival groups allegedly exchanged gunfire, prompting the university to suspend Students’ Union activities

A yet-to-be-identified 100-level student of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Rivers State, was reportedly shot on campus on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, by suspected cultists, two days after an alleged clash between rival groups triggered panic at the institution.

Also read: Rivers Varsity Cult Clash Sparks Fresh Security Fears

The latest Rivers varsity shooting has prompted university management to suspend the remaining activities of Students’ Union Government Week and direct students to return to lectures on Thursday.

Details of the Wednesday incident remained limited as of Wednesday evening, but a source close to the injured student said the victim was taken to a hospital, where doctors were preparing to carry out surgery to remove bullet pellets lodged in the student’s body.

The source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the incident, said the student’s friends were contributing money towards the medical procedure.

“His close friends were contributing money to raise funds for the surgery to happen,” the source said.

It was not immediately established whether the student was a member of any cult group. The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the identity of the assailants and the motive, were also yet to be officially confirmed.

A video circulating online showed the injured student lying on a hospital bed before being carried into the university campus by coursemates. The footage could not independently establish when or where the shooting occurred.

The incident followed a separate shooting episode on Monday, August 10, when suspected members of rival cult groups were reportedly involved in a supremacy battle on the campus.

The Monday confrontation was said to have involved suspected members of the Vikings and Ku Klux Klan groups, with gunshots reportedly causing tension among students and staff.

Rivers State Police Command spokesperson Blessing Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed on Monday that the command was investigating the earlier clash involving suspected cult groups.

When contacted on Wednesday about the latest shooting, Agabe said she had seen the circulating video and would obtain details from the Divisional Police Officer responsible for the area.

The police spokesperson had not provided further information as of Wednesday evening.

The renewed violence has revived concerns about cult-related activity around Ignatius Ajuru University.

The institution has faced similar security challenges in recent years, including a reported clash between suspected Vikings and Black Axe members in April 2025. Police arrested one suspect during that incident, while a pistol was reportedly recovered.

A year earlier, in August 2024, another violent confrontation involving suspected Vikings and Iceland cult members was reported during Students’ Week. University authorities at the time disputed reports of a fatality, saying security personnel intervened to prevent further escalation.

The pattern has made the timing of the latest incidents particularly sensitive, coming while the university was holding activities linked to Students’ Union Government Week.

In response to the latest security concerns, university management announced the immediate suspension of all remaining Students’ Union Government Week activities.

The directive was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday by the university Registrar, Dr Chinonye Ajie.

Management directed students to return to their classrooms on Thursday, August 13, for normal academic activities and warned that students who failed to attend lectures would be held responsible for their actions.

The university also urged students to avoid behaviour capable of undermining their education or threatening peace and security on campus.

The decision effectively shifts the institution’s focus from student festivities back to regular academic activities as authorities seek to prevent another escalation.

The university’s response is significant because previous incidents have shown how quickly disputes involving suspected cult groups can disrupt campus life.

In April 2025, police said adequate security measures were deployed after a clash at the institution, while students reportedly fled in panic during the confrontation.

The latest incident also comes amid broader concerns over cult-related violence in Rivers State.

Police have previously investigated suspected cult-linked attacks involving students and young people in and around university communities, including the 2025 killing of Ignatius Ajuru University student Julius Okpor in Rumuolumeni.

For the unidentified 100-level student and the student community, however, the immediate concern is recovery and safety.

The reported need for surgery has placed the victim’s classmates in the difficult position of raising funds for emergency medical care while the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.

The police are yet to publicly identify suspects or confirm whether the latest incident is directly connected to Monday’s reported clash. Until investigators establish the circumstances, claims linking the shooting to a particular cult group remain allegations.

University management’s decision to halt the remaining SUG Week activities represents a cautious response to the deteriorating atmosphere. Returning students to normal lectures is intended to restore routine while the security situation is assessed.

As students resume academic activities on Thursday, the central challenge for the university and security agencies will be to ensure that the campus remains safe and that the reported violence does not develop into another cycle of reprisals.

Also read: Lagos Cult Attack Kills Security Guard in Yaba

The latest Rivers varsity shooting has therefore left more questions than answers, with the condition of the injured student, the identity of those responsible and any connection with Monday’s confrontation still requiring official clarification.