A first-year student of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rivers State, has reportedly sustained gunshot injuries during the institution’s Students’ Week celebration.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, has sparked tension among students on campus.
A viral video circulating on social media showed fellow students carrying the injured student to a hospital for emergency treatment.
A close friend of the victim, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said doctors were reportedly removing bullets from the student’s body. The source also claimed that students had to contribute money to assist with the victim’s medical expenses.
Following the incident, the university initially issued a statement announcing the suspension of Students’ Week activities. However, in a subsequent statement, the institution denied suspending the programme and instead urged students to desist from any activity capable of causing chaos or disrupting peace on campus.
The conflicting statements have left students and members of the university community seeking clarity over the status of the Students’ Week programme and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
As of the time of filing this report, the Rivers State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer for comments were unsuccessful.
