FAMILY OF SLAIN 300-LEVEL IGNATIUS AJURU UNIVERSITY STUDENT REJECTS CULTISM CLAIMS, DEMANDS JUSTICE. (PHOTO).

 Family of Slain 300-Level Ignatius Ajuru University Student Rejects Cultism Claims, Demands Justice

The family of Julius Okpor, a 300-level Computer Science student at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Rumuolumeni, Rivers State, has called for a thorough investigation into his killing on Saturday, July 20, 2025, insisting that he was not a cultist as speculated in some reports. The family is demanding justice for the gruesome murder of the student, who was shot dead in a suspected cult-related incident in the Rumuolumeni area of Port Harcourt.

According to a statement by the Rivers State Police Command, spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko reported that Okpor, a native of Okposi in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, was allegedly killed by members of a rival cult group around Cecilia Road at approximately 11:30 a.m. Police operatives responded promptly, rushing Okpor to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), where he was confirmed dead. However, Ambrose Okpor, the deceased’s elder brother, refuted the police’s narrative during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday evening, dismissing claims that his brother was involved in cult activities. “My brother was never a cultist,” Ambrose stated emphatically. “He was a peace-loving student with no record of criminal behavior. His neighbors on Cevelia Street, where he lived, described him as their caretaker and spoke highly of his character.”

Ambrose, who was alerted to the incident by a friend and neighbor around 9 p.m. on Saturday, recounted arriving at the scene with police to find his brother already deceased. Contrary to some reports, he clarified that Julius’s remains were taken to a military hospital on Aba Road, not UPTH. The family expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Police for their swift response but insisted that only a transparent investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators would bring closure. “We will not let this slide because we are his family members. He is my younger brother, and we will not stop until justice is served,” a distraught Ambrose added.

The Rivers State Police Command, led by Commissioner Olugbenga Adepoju, has launched a full-scale investigation into the killing, which preliminary findings suggest may be linked to ongoing rival cult activities in the area. Adepoju condemned the murder and assured the public that efforts to apprehend the culprits and restore peace in Rumuolumeni are underway. The police have called on residents to provide credible information to aid the investigation.

The incident has heightened concerns about cult-related violence in Rivers State, with reports indicating that clashes between groups such as the Vikings, Black Axe, and Klu-Klux-Klan have been ongoing, including a prior incident at Ignatius Ajuru University in April 2025, where a suspect was arrested with a Beretta pistol. The university has previously taken action against cultism, suspending students involved in such activities.

Julius Okpor, described as an industrious and respected student, leaves behind a grieving family determined to clear his name and ensure accountability for his death. The case continues to draw attention as the community awaits the outcome of the ongoing police investigation.