Two students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in Osun State, have sustained injuries following a violent robbery attack on private hostels located off-campus in the Moremi Estate area of the town.
The attack occurred at about 11 p.m. on Monday, when armed robbers reportedly invaded two student hostels, wielding cutlasses and a gun, carting away valuables including mobile phones, laptops, and cash.
Videos obtained by Emmynet24 news media showed bloodstains on the floor of one of the rooms and smashed windows, suggesting a violent struggle during the attack.
Students Narrate How Attack Happened
A student, Daniel (surname withheld), who spoke to Emmynet24 news media on Tuesday, confirmed that two hostels were invaded and that two students were injured—one of whom was attacked with a cutlass for refusing to hand over his phone.
“The armed persons came around 10:49 p.m. and robbed some students. One of them was cut with a machete for resisting. They took away phones, MacBooks, and cash.
“They later went to another hostel, Peace Hostel, and robbed again. Some of us tried to pursue them, but they shot into the air, and we had to retreat,” he said.
He added that members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) arrived before police officers and took the injured victims to the university health centre for treatment.
Students’ Union, SRC Condemn Insecurity
In a joint statement signed by the OAU Students’ Union President, David Adelani, PRO, Oreoluwa Olowosile, and Secretary-General, Habeeb Isa, the union condemned the rising insecurity affecting off-campus students.
The union also revealed that a student identified as Dorcas Oseghale had been missing for over two months, while another student narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt on Sunday night.
“Dorcas has been missing for more than two months, with no tangible progress made in the investigation. On Sunday, another student narrowly escaped being kidnapped,” the statement said.
The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) also issued a separate statement co-signed by Speaker Awe Ademola, Deputy Speaker Nasir Hameed, and Clerk Ayeni Deborah, condemning what it described as a “climate of fear and uncertainty” in Ile-Ife.
The SRC accused the Osun State Government and security agencies of negligence and demanded urgent intervention from Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Osun Commissioner of Police.
“This is not an isolated incident. It is a frightening trend that has persisted for too long while those responsible for protecting lives and property fold their arms in shameful silence,” the council said.
The council also urged the university management to address the housing deficit that forces thousands of students to live off-campus, where they are more vulnerable to attacks.
Police React
When contacted, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Yemisi Ojelabi, told Emmynet24 news media that the command was not yet aware of the robbery and urged the victims to report to the nearest police division for proper documentation.
“I am not aware of such an incident in Ile-Ife. The affected students should report to the nearest police station so we can take necessary action. The estate should also engage security guards for added protection,” she said.
Efforts to reach the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, were unsuccessful as his phone line was switched off, and messages sent to him were undelivered as of press time.
Rising Pattern of Off-Campus Attacks
Attacks on off-campus student hostels have become a recurring security challenge in Nigerian university communities.
In July 2025, Emmynet24 news media reported that students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) began organising night patrols after a wave of robberies left several students injured.
Similarly, in January 2022, University of Ibadan students decried repeated off-campus robberies involving armed invaders who assaulted students and stole valuables.
Security experts have attributed the surge in such crimes to poor street lighting, limited police patrols, and urban crime spillover from surrounding communities.
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