UNIPORT Four: VC confirms Tekena as student

On October 15, 2012 · In News

1:51 am

PORT HAR-COURT – 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.”