The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cross River State, Prof. Augustine Angba, has debunked media reports alleging that a female student was raped on campus by hoodlums on November 21.
Angba disclosed this during an interview with newsmen on Monday, in Calabar.
The VC said that the case reported as rape was actually a phone theft case.
He said; “No student was raped, beaten or harmed on campus. it was a case of phone theft and food stuff. We have similar cases of phone theft on campus and we have done our best in recovering them.”
He blamed the misinformation on some “bloggers” who rushed to publish their reports without due investigation and balance from the university authorities.
Angba said that the police have begun investigation on the matter with a view of apprehending the suspects and recovering the stolen phone and food stuff.
According to him, the route where suspected hoodlums usually gain entrance into the hostel blocks has been noticed and efforts are on to install a barb wire to prevent further occurrences.
He said; “We have asked the student involved to give us the registration number of the phone.’’
“We are going to pay for the tracking of the phone and also ensure it is recovered and handed over to the rightful owner.’’
“I keep advising my students. If hoodlums come for your phone, quickly hand it over to them because we can track phones. The lives of our students are paramount to us.”
The VC urged students on campus to be vigilant about their security and to report any suspicious movement around them to the university authorities.