4 UNIPORT killings: Lloyd’s father, Mike Toku accuses Aluu community of cover-up
Mr and Mrs Toku
Father of one of the students murdered by a mob at Aluu, River State, Mr. Mike Toku, has described as a deliberate cover-up the continued denial by members of the community that they had no hand in the killing of his son, Lloyd.
Toku insisted that his son and three other students of the University of Port Harcourt were tortured and killed by members of Omuokiri Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, Toku said it was unfortunate that the community that murdered his son could deny being involved in the act.
He explained that the incident took place in the presence of members of the public and wondered why any Aluu indigene would want to deny the obvious.
He said, “To say they are not involved in the killing of my son is a big lie; it is a white lie and a cover-up for their wicked and unacceptable act. The incident did not take place in one of the community’s bush.
“They killed my son in a place that looked like a village square belonging to the community. While the killers were hitting my son and three other students, others stood and watched the incident.”
Toku, who insisted that his son was innocent of any crime he was accused of before being murdered, urged the police to arrest the killers of his son and those watching while the crime against the students was being committed.
Explaining that the police have yet to communicate with him on the matter, Toku said it was necessary that security agents did the right for justice to prevail.
Also, the late Tekena Erikena’s sister, Ann, said though she could not dictate to government what should be done; justice was all members of the family were demanding.
Describing her brother as a humble person, who had respect for people, Ann wondered why members of the community would brand him a thief and kill him.
She said, “I cannot dictate to government on what they should do, but what we want is justice. My brother was never a thief.”
Meanwhile, President, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Nasir Fagge, on Sunday described the killings of students in some parts of the country as unfortunate and condemnable.
Fagge told the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone interview in Lagos that the union was worried and sad by the development.
He said the union had directed affected institutions to investigate the incidents and that it was waiting for the outcome before taking appropriate steps.
He said, “We have asked our members in the affected institutions to give us information but whatever it is, it is a condemnable act.
“This is part of what the union has been canvassing– that Federal Government should fund universities adequately so that they can be in a position to provide accommodation on campus for students.
“With adequate funding, we can make our environment more secure.”
Fagge noted that the requirement for every institution was that, at least, 35 per cent of its students should be accommodated on campus.
He added that ASUU was pushing for at least 50 per cent of students to be accommodated on campus.
[Source Punch]
VC finally confirms Tekena as student…..
VICE Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Prof. Joseph Ajienka, has confirmed that Tekena Erikena, who was killed alongside three others at Omuokiri-Aluu community, penultimate Friday, was a student of the university.
He said, weekend, that the university later found out that he registered for a certificate programme.
The Vice Chancellor said initially, the university could only confirm three of the four killed as students of the university, adding that effort was later made to ascertain if the late Tekena, who did a basic programme with the university, was later admitted to any formal programme.
The others killed were Ugona Obuzor, year II Geology student; Biringa Lordson, year II Theatre Arts student and Mike Toku, year II Civil Engineering student.
Vanguard gathered that Dr. Andrew Efemini, Head of Department of Philosophy in the University, has been removed from office. Sources at the university said Dr. Efemini was removed for allegedly identifying with the students in last Tuesday’s protest over the killing of their colleagues.
Centre for Environment Human Rights and Development, CEHRD, has condemned his removal and called on the university to immediately reinstate the lecturer as Head of Department.
CEHRD, in a statement by Stephen Obodoekwe, called on government to bring killers of the four students to book.
He said: “We consider the arbitrary removal of the respected social justice crusader as unjust and condemnable as it is a direct attack on freedom of association and expression, as well as an attack on academic freedom. We condemn the removal without reservations. It is unimaginable that anybody could be victimized, punished or reprimanded for protesting the callous and barbaric killing of four students of the university, a barbaric act, which had been and is still being greeted by public condemnations and outcries.”
May the people responsible undergo the same fate.