The Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has raised alarm over what it describes as a frightening escalation in violent robberies targeting students living off-campus.
In a statement, the Union warned that the security situation in student-dominated areas of Ile-Ife had deteriorated sharply in recent weeks, with over 30 reported robbery cases involving students in just two weeks.
“Behind every case is a student who has been traumatised, brutalised, extorted, and left helpless. Phones are being stolen. Monies are being wiped from students’ bank accounts. Hostels are being broken into in the dead of night. And, even worse, students are being severely injured,” the Union stated.
One particularly harrowing incident involved a student who suffered a machete attack to the head during a robbery at his hostel. He is reportedly in critical condition and receiving hospital treatment.
The Union noted that just hours before releasing its statement, four more robberies occurred across three different locations in the town.
“One student lost her phone. Another had his car stolen, and all the money in his account was transferred, leaving him with nothing,” the statement said.
Signed by Secretary General Babatimehin Kinfeosi and President Omoboriowo Isaac, the Union’s statement described students as living in fear, uncertain whether they would be the next victims.
Despite repeatedly reaching out to the police, the Union said the response has been inadequate and ineffective.
“We have visited nearby police stations and even the Osun State Criminal Investigation Department. Yet, there has been no tangible improvement,” the Union lamented.
The Union urged immediate intervention by the Federal Government, the Osun State Government, and other relevant authorities.
It called for the provision of patrol vehicles for the police and Amotekun operatives, increased security presence in student areas, and support from the Ministries of Education to resolve the issue of limited on-campus accommodation.
It also urged the OAU management to take more responsibility for off-campus student welfare.
“The OAU Management must engage in active dialogue with relevant authorities to ensure better security for her students and consider tightening security arrangements for student hostels even outside campus,” the Union said.
Warning of impending protests, the Union stated: “If these demands are not treated with the urgency and seriousness they deserve, we, the students of Great Ife, under the leadership of the Students’ Union, will have no choice but to escalate our actions, including but not limited to mass demonstrations and peaceful protests to express our growing frustrations and desperation.
“Students came here to learn, not to be hunted. We can no longer live in fear. We will defend ourselves with every voice and means available to us. We demand action. We demand safety. We demand justice.”
The Union copied the statement to key figures including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, the OAU Vice-Chancellor, and the Ooni of Ife, among others.
In response, the university management clarified its position, stating that it is not responsible for student security outside the university premises.
Public Relations Officer of OAU, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, said: “I am not aware of any robbery incident that happened on campus. But if there are robbery incidents that happened outside the campus within the residential areas of our students, the school management does not have enough security operatives to cover any student outside the campus.”
While sympathising with affected students, Olanrewaju emphasised that security in off-campus areas falls under the jurisdiction of the Nigerian police.
“It is the statutory responsibility of security operatives to police everybody including those on campus, but particularly, any student that stays outside campus should be protected and report robbery cases to the Nigerian police. They are the ones that can handle that,” he said.
He further noted that many student accommodations are located in mixed residential areas shared with non-students and landlords.
“We cannot actually single out students that an area was robbed where students are staying. They are our students, we sympathise with them. The management is incapacitated to extend security within the campus to them there. We can only speak for any incident that happens to them within the campus premises,” he said.
He used the opportunity to appeal to security agencies: “I want to use this medium to appeal to the Nigerian police and other security agencies to please help us intensify their patrol towards the areas where most of our students are residing.”
Attempts to contact the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered.
