BY IFEANYI UWAGWU
DENNIS Osadebe University (DOU), Asaba, has denied reports on social media that armed robbers invaded the campus on Wednesday night, carting away sundry items belonging to students residing in the institution’s hostels.
The report, widely circulated on WhatsApp platforms by anonymous sources, alleged that mobile phones, power banks, and other personal items were stoled during the purported attack. Promoters of the report also said a student was kidnapped.
However, in a swift reaction, the Dean of Student Affairs, Mr. Lucky Enakirerhi, dismissed the reports as completely untrue, describing them as baseless rumours capable of inciting panic.
“There was nothing like that,” he told The Pointer. “I saw it flying on social media, that phones were stolen, while someone even said a student was kidnapped. Nothing of the sort happened.”
Enakirerhi noted that he had spoken directly with students who said that there was no such incident. He further stated that the university’s security unit had not recorded any breach on campus and that no official report had been lodged.
“If anything like that happened, the security unit would be aware, and I would certainly know. My office is directly opposite the school field, and they said it happened between 5pm and 7 p.m. I was there till 7pm, and I saw nothing unusual,” he stressed.
He added that the university was considering issuing an official statement to warn against the spread of misinformation, which he said creates unnecessary fear and tension within the campus.
“The people peddling these rumours are putting the entire school community in perpetual fear. That’s unfair and dangerous,” he said.
Enakirerhi disclosed that he had met with the union executives and confirmed that even the SUG president acknowledged hearing the rumour but found no proof to support the claims.
“She (SUG President) said she heard about the incident too, but there was no evidence,” he noted.
Meanwhile, a representative of the Student Union Government declined to comment on the matter, stating that she was not authorised to speak on behalf of the body.
