Two students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, were injured after armed robbers attacked off-campus hostels on Monday night. The incident comes amid fears over the mysterious disappearance of another student who has been missing for about two months.
According to reports, the robbers, armed with cutlasses and a gun, stormed the area around 11 p.m., breaking windows and stealing valuables such as phones, laptops, and cash.
Videos from the scene showed bloodstains on the floor of a room and a shattered burglar-proof window.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, a student identified as Daniel said two hostels were attacked during the incident.
He explained, “The armed persons came to the hostel at about 10:49 p.m. yesterday (Monday) and robbed some students. One of the students who did not want to release his phone was attacked with a cutlass. They carted away phones and MacBook laptops.
“They left and attacked another hostel, Peace Hostel, robbed the students, and collected their belongings. After a while, we mobilised ourselves and gave them a chase, but when they saw us, they shot into the air, which caused us to disperse.
“This is not the first time they have attacked students’ hostels. It was the Students’ Union Government that came around to rescue the injured students to the health centre.”
A police patrol team reportedly arrived later to monitor the area.
In a statement on Tuesday, the OAU Students’ Union Government condemned the repeated attacks, linking them to growing insecurity in off-campus areas.
The union, led by President David Adelani, PRO Oreoluwa Olowosile, and Secretary-General Habeeb Isa, said one student, Dorcas Oseghale, had been missing for over two months.
The statement read, “Dorcas Oseghale, a student of our university, has been missing for over two months, with no significant progress reported in her case. This unresolved disappearance has heightened fears among the student body and underscores the vulnerability of off-campus residents.
“On Sunday night, another student was kidnapped while in the vicinity of student-populated areas. Fortunately, the victim managed to escape during an attempt to transfer him to another vehicle and fled to safety.
“Just yesterday (Monday) night, around 11 p.m., a violent robbery occurred at two hostels at the Moremi Estate. Armed robbers invaded the premises, beat several students, and two heavily injured students were driven to the University Health Centre for immediate medical attention by the Students’ Union officers who arrived at the scene even before police officers.”
The union called on the state government and the Inspector-General of Police to act urgently to secure students’ lives and property.
Likewise, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of OAU issued a separate statement signed by Speaker Awe Ademola, Deputy Speaker Nasir Hameed, and Clerk Ayeni Deborah, condemning what it called “a climate of fear and uncertainty” across student areas in Ile-Ife.
According to the SRC, “This is not an isolated event; it is a continuation of a frightening trend that has persisted for far too long while those responsible for protecting lives and property fold their arms in shameful silence.”
The council criticised the Osun State Government and security agencies for failing to prevent the recurring attacks and demanded “immediate and decisive action” from Governor Ademola Adeleke and the police.
The SRC also urged the university to address the housing crisis by expanding on-campus accommodation, noting that many students are forced to live in unsafe off-campus areas.
Attempts to reach the OAU management were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to the institution’s spokesperson, Abiodun Olanrewaju, were not returned.
When contacted, Osun Police PRO, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the command was unaware of the robbery.
“I am not aware of such an incident in Ile-Ife. If they had reported to the nearest division, I would have been informed. The affected students should go and report so we can take action on it. The estate should also get guards for additional security,” Ojelabi said.
Similar off-campus attacks have been reported in other Nigerian universities. In July 2025, students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, launched self-help patrols after a wave of robberies, while University of Ibadan students faced similar ordeals in 2022.
Security experts have linked the rising trend to factors such as poor lighting, limited police patrols, and inadequate campus housing, which expose students to urban crime spillovers from nearby communities.
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