Port Harcourt — Following attacks on them and the alleged raping of their girls by reformed militants camped at Social Training Centre, Aluu, Rivers State, the two host communities, Choba and Aluu as well as students are threatening reprisal attacks on the camp of the reformed militants if the Federal Government fails to relocate them.This is as the four unions in the University of Port Harcourt, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Technicians (NAT) have withdrawn their services in protest against the attack on them, Monday, by the militants who broke camp, smashed their vehicles and snatched their laptops.Although the university Public Relations Officer, Dr. William Wordi, said the university was not officially notified of the withdrawal of services by the unions, he said they have petitioned President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the Director General of the State Security Services (SSS), Inspector General of Police, Governor of Rivers State, the National Universities Commi-ssion (NUC) and a plethora of other authorities pleading that the reformed militants be moved out of the area.The strike is coming on the heels of the arrest and detention of about nine of the reformed militants caught after the riot with stolen effects on their way to town who the police said were being prepared for prosecution.The communities were said to have asked the federal and state government to move the reformed militants who they alleged had been going after their girls and even raping married women in the presence of their husbands.THISDAY learnt that Aluu community had asked the Rivers State Amnesty Coordinator, Mr. Bestman Nnwoka, to move the reformed militants out of their community about two months before they rioted.However, following the plot to storm the camp and sack it in retaliation for the anti-social vices of the boys, none of the community leaders agreed to speak on record again while some switched off their phones so that they can no longer be reached.They confirmed off record that the Choba and Aluu communities have met and are strategising on how to retaliate on the social assault of their domain by the reformed militants, adding that crime wave within their domain has spiraled since the coming of the camp.Dr. William Wordi who spoke with us said that taking into consideration the university community with about 30,000 student's population most of them girls; it was dangerous to have the militants, though they have renounced militancy, so close.Police Public Relations Officer, Rita Abbey, said they have deployed their men also in strategic positions to keep the peace while those caught after the riot would face prosecution.By Ahamefula Ogbu19 November 2009AllAfrica.com
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