Mother seeks justice over son’s alleged assault by Abia varsity security

A mother has called for a thorough investigation and justice after her son, Starry-Joshua Mustapha Okemebeose, a 100-level medical student at Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, was allegedly assaulted and humiliated by the institution’s security officers.

According to Mrs Roscees Okemebeose, the incident occurred on December 19, 2024, when her son was accused of theft by five security officers, beaten, and tied up at the university’s entrance gate. She alleged that her son suffered physical and psychological trauma despite not committing any offence.

Recounting the incident, Mrs Okemebeose explained that her son had given his phone to a technician on campus for repair. But after multiple attempts to retrieve it, the technician asked him to return late at night. Out of frustration when he could not recover his phone, her son accidentally threw his power bank onto a building’s roof while in the vicinity.

“When he climbed onto the roof to retrieve the power bank and jumped down, the security officers apprehended him, accused him of theft, and started beating him. They tied his hands and legs, leaving him at the school gate from 3:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. the next day, giving him only water when he nearly fainted,” she alleged.

Mrs Okemebeose said the school’s Chief Security Officer confirmed that nothing incriminating was found on her son. Despite this, the officers reportedly labelled him a thief and told him to stay in his room “as a thief” or leave the school.

Upon learning of the incident, Mrs Okemebeose said she reported the matter to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Uwaoma Kalu Uche, who promised an investigation within 72 hours.

Dissatisfied with the handling of the case, she petitioned the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other bodies, including the National Human Rights Commission and the Inspector-General of Police, to intervene.

In the petition dated January 21, 2025, and signed by her counsel, Orduen Mark Feese of Markfees Advocates and Solicitors, Mrs Okemebeose described her son’s ordeal as a violation of his fundamental rights. The petition urged the NUC to investigate the alleged assault, citing physical injuries and psychological trauma inflicted on the student.

Reacting to the allegations, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof C.U. Njoku, confirmed that the university management is investigating the matter. “Management does not condone such actions. I have scolded the security officers involved. They had no right to tell the student to leave the school without informing management. The board is investigating,” she said.

The Chief Security Officer, Mr Innocent, denied the allegations of assault, stating that the student was apprehended after being spotted jumping off a roof at 3:00 a.m. following a report from someone in the building.

“I was not present when it happened, but it was reported to me. The boy was taken into custody for questioning. Nobody beat him. He is our student, and we judge cases on their merit. We later released him as we were preparing for convocation, with a promise to investigate further,” Innocent said.