Gunmen attack OAU students’ hostel

Two students staying at the Obafemi Awolowo Hall of the University of Ibadan have been injured following a robbery incident on the students’ hostel by some gunmen.

The armed robbers, according to some students, stormed the hostel robbing them of their valuables.

Our correspondent gathered that the armed robbers raided the finalists’ block of the hostel over an hour.

A student who claimed not to have a laptop was cut with a knife.

Students of the hostel revealed that the local security personnel of the institution guarding the hostel was overpowered and was praying while the robbery was ongoing.

An angry student said, “If a door to door robbery happened for an hour, possessions being collected at gunpoint, and no student knew how to reach the security agency, there’s a terrible disconnect.

“I’m not sure if there’s only one security personnel at the time, but even if there was, should he not have been calling for reinforcement instead of praying?

“They come with wrappers and sleep instead of guarding the hostel. They are old and unarmed.”

Another student said, “This robbery is not just another “unfortunate” event. It is a result of negligence on the part of the authorities. Someone somewhere failed to do his/her job. They must be held responsible.”

It was gathered that the school management pleaded to the residents of the hostel not to reveal what happened on social media.

A student of the university attributed the attack to the influx of students from other universities to the school who came for a football competition.

“Some students came from outside to play a football match in the school stadium complex very close to the hostel. The robbers might have gained access to the hostel through that way.”

Another student attributed the attack to the lackadaisical attitude of the school management to the security of the students whose hostel is in a ‘porous part of the school’.

“They (school management) know that where the hostel is not secured so they should always keep security men in the area,” the student said.

A student of another hostel who was robbed lamented that the school management is not concerned about the welfare of students, as robbers attack students at will.

“Last week, three laptops and four phones were stolen, my phone and laptop inclusive from Abdulsalam Abubakar Hall. After reporting the theft at the UI security services, no tangible action was taken.

“The thief came again and was almost apprehended but the security man on duty that night could not match his strength, so the thief jumped over the fence and escaped.

“My worries since then have been more about the sad realization of the malady with our society and how it has infected our institution.

“When my phone and laptop were stolen, some sympathizers told me not to press it because I won’t be able to recover those items and more important, the security man on duty may lose his job.”

“Now, a more brutal one has happened in Awo. Who’s going to be responsible for those properties lost and the trauma those students will be going through? I was once a victim and I can only imagine what they may be going through. We cannot allow this madness to continue, not within our institution,” a student said.

Confirming the attack, the Director of Communication, University of Ibadan, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, said injured students have beeen taken to the school clinic and investigation is ongoing.

“The Police from Ojoo, Bodija, Sango were called. They came and search for the robbers and investigation is on.”

Mr K.O Adebowale, Deputy Vice Chancellor (administration) visited the students and addressed the students assuring them of increased security around the hostel.