Fear and tension have gripped students of Olabisi Onabanjo University following another attack by armed men on hostels occupied by students of the College of Engineering at the institution’s Ibogun campus in Ogun State.
The latest incident, which happened in the early hours of Friday, came less than two weeks after a similar attack was reported in the same area, raising fresh concerns about the safety of students living off campus.
According to reports, about seven armed hoodlums invaded the student hostels between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., shooting into the air and threatening students before robbing them of valuables, including mobile phones, cash and a vehicle.
No fewer than 15 students were reportedly affected during the operation, which residents described as terrifying and traumatic.
The attackers were said to have escaped with a black Lexus ES 350 belonging to one of the students after operating freely in the area for nearly two hours.
Students who spoke after the incident said many of them were forced to hide inside their rooms while the gunmen moved from one hostel to another. Some victims reportedly sustained minor injuries while trying to escape or protect themselves during the attack.
President of the Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association at the institution, Oluwafemi Aderupatan, confirmed the incident and expressed concern over the repeated attacks on students in the campus community.
According to him, the situation has continued because authorities failed to implement security measures earlier promised after a similar robbery attack that occurred about two weeks ago.
“The armed robbers, about seven of them, attacked students in their hostels in the early hours of Friday,” Aderupatan said.
“They were shooting and threatening to kill the students. They robbed about 15 students of their phones and also went away with a black Lexus ES 350 belonging to one of the students.”
He explained that students contacted the police during the incident, but security operatives arrived only after the attackers had already escaped.
“We actually called for police intervention and they came around after the robbers had left, but the deed had already been done,” he added.
Aderupatan further criticized what he described as weak security arrangements around the institution, saying the area had become vulnerable to criminal attacks due to the absence of a strong security presence.
He said students were disappointed that plans earlier discussed by the police, school management and community leaders to establish a police post and improve security infrastructure had not been carried out.
“We are equally not happy that the police post and robust security architecture that the police, the school management and community leaders promised to put in place about two weeks ago when we had a similar armed robbery incident have not become a reality,” he said.
According to the student leader, criminals now take advantage of the poor security situation in the area to target students living in hostels around the campus. He argued that establishing a permanent police post or deploying more security personnel would discourage future attacks.
He appealed to Dapo Abiodun to urgently intervene and improve security around the university community.
The repeated attacks have left many students and parents worried about safety at the institution, especially those staying in private hostels outside the main campus. Some students reportedly spent Friday in fear and confusion, while others considered temporarily relocating from the area.
Reacting to the incident, spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed that investigations had commenced.
“I can however confirm that the matter is under investigation and the police are already acting on the information available,” she said.
“The Ogun State Police Command takes every security concern within the Ibogun campus environment seriously, and efforts are ongoing to ascertain the facts surrounding the report and take necessary action where required,” she added.
The latest attack has again highlighted growing concerns over insecurity around many tertiary institutions in Nigeria, where students living off campus often become targets for armed robbers, kidnappers and other criminals.
In several university towns across the country, students have repeatedly complained about poor lighting, isolated hostel locations, inadequate police presence and delayed emergency response during attacks.
The situation is worsened in some areas by poor road networks and weak communication systems, making it difficult for security agencies to respond quickly during emergencies.
In recent years, cases of robbery, kidnapping and violent attacks involving students have been reported in different parts of Nigeria. Some incidents have led to deaths, injuries and psychological trauma among victims.
The attack at OOU has also renewed calls for stronger collaboration between university authorities, host communities and security agencies to improve campus safety.
Parents and guardians have continued to express concern over the safety of students sent to schools far from home. Many believe insecurity around campuses could affect learning and create fear among students.
Some students at the Ibogun campus said they now live-in constant fear, especially at night, because of repeated criminal attacks in the area. Others complained that they could no longer sleep peacefully due to anxiety over possible future attacks.
Community leaders in university towns have in the past called for better policing, regular patrols and installation of security infrastructure around student residential areas.
The latest incident came barely two weeks after suspected gunmen reportedly invaded student hostels in the same area, assaulting students and carting away phones, a vehicle and other valuables.
The repeated nature of the attacks has raised fears that criminal groups may be becoming more confident because of weak security arrangements in the community.
Students have therefore urged both the state government and security agencies to act quickly before the situation worsens further.
For many students at the College of Engineering, the latest robbery attack has once again exposed the dangers they face daily while pursuing their education. As investigations continue, affected students are hoping authorities will move beyond promises and take concrete action to restore safety and confidence in the campus community.