One missing, two injured as robbers attack Osun varsity hostels

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Two students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, were injured in a robbery attack on some students’ hostels located outside the university campus.

This is just as one student was said to have gone missing in mysterious circumstances about two months ago.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Tuesday that the robbers, who were armed with cutlasses and a gun, invaded the area at about 11 p.m. on Monday.

The robbers were said to have broken windows and carted away some of the students’ belongings, including mobile phones, laptops, and money, among others.

Videos of the attack sighted by our correspondents showed a room floor with bloodstains, while another image showed a damaged burglar-proof window.

Speaking with our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Tuesday, a student who identified himself as Daniel noted that two hostels were attacked by robbers on Monday night.

He noted that during the robberies, two students sustained injuries after one was attacked with a cutlass.

Daniel said, “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.”

He noted that a patrol police team came around after the incident to monitor the area.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the OAU Students’ Union Government lamented the spate of attacks, stressing that one student had gone missing about two months ago.

The statement, jointly signed by the Union President, David Adelani; Public Relations Officer, Oreoluwa Olowosile; and Secretary-General, Habeeb Isa, noted that a student escaped a kidnapping attempt while another had gone missing for some months.

The union wrote, “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.”

They urged the state government and the Inspector-General of Police to take proactive steps in ensuring the safety of the students.

Similarly, in a statement released on Tuesday by Great Ife’s Students’ Representative Council, and co-signed by its Speaker, Awe Ademola; Deputy Speaker, Nasir Hameed; and the Clerk, Ayeni Deborah, the council condemned what it described as “a climate of fear and uncertainty” across student communities in Ile-Ife, following a spate of violent robberies targeting students.

The council alleged that around 11 p.m. on Sunday at the Oreoluwa Hostel in Moremi Estate, Ife, students were attacked, dispossessed of their valuables, and left injured.

“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 statement read.

The SRC criticised the Osun State Government and security agencies for failing to curb the attacks despite recurring security votes.