The Students’ Union Government (SUG) President of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Rivers State, Comrade Alex Onu, has dismissed reports of a cult clash on the university premises.

Onu said the gunshot reportedly heard within the university premises was fired by the police into the air to disperse some persons who had entered the institution during the ongoing SUG Week celebration.

His account, however, appeared to conflict with a viral video circulating online, which purportedly showed a gang  group  firing shots while another group fled.

The SUG president maintained that the persons, were attracted to the university by the SUG Week activities , stating  that they did not engage the police in any confrontation and had left the premises after the police fired the warning shot.

He also claimed that  the persons were not armed and that there was no exchange of gunfire between them and the police or other security personnel attached to the institution.

“They didn’t resist the police at all. As soon as the police shot into the air, they left immediately,” Onu said.

He consequently dismissed reports that the alleged group engaged in prolonged shooting within the university premises without intervention from the police or school security personnel.

Onu described such reports as an exaggeration of what transpired, stressing that the incident did not amount to the cult-related violence portrayed in some accounts.

He further explained that students were actively engaged in various SUG Week activities throughout the day, adding that the programmes continued peacefully until about 7 p.m.

He questioned how cult violence could have allegedly taken over the university premises, while students were still participating in scheduled SUG Week activities.

Meanwhile, the university management has yet to officially comment on the incident, while the police have also not issued a statement on the matter.

Onu, however, in a statement to students, reaffirmed his commitment to protecting their interests and ensuring their safety.