OAU Students Lament Incessant Robbery Around Students Environment, Records 30 Robbery Scenes In Two Weeks

Calls On Osun Govt., Police, Oni of Ife For Intervention

The Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife have taken to the social media to lament heavy security threat and incessant robbery scenes around students environment in Ife town.

The Students’ Union Government of the University in a release issued on Wednesday May 28 2025, raised concerns over negligence despite series of complaints to the appropriate security agencies including Police, State CID, thereby exposing the Nigerian students to danger, robbery and threat to life on daily basis.

According to the release signed by the President Omoboriowo Isaac and General Secretary, Babatimehin Kinfeosi” Over the past few weeks, the security situation in Ile-Ife, especially in areas largely populated by students of Obafemi Awolowo University, has deteriorated at an alarming rate. We are deeply disturbed by the increasing rate of armed robberies that have targeted students exclusively in their hostels/residential areas off-campus.”

” In just the last two weeks, we have recorded no fewer than 30 separate robbery incidents, all involving only students. Behind every case is a student who has been traumatised, brutalised, extorted, and left helpless. Phones are being stolen. Monies are being wiped from students’ bank accounts. Hostels are being broken into in the dead of night. And, even worse, students are being severely injured.

” Just last week, a student was macheted on the head during a robbery at his hostel. He is currently in a critical condition and is still receiving treatment at the hospital. Just this midnight, there were four robbery incidents in three different locations in Ife. One student lost her phone Another had his car stolen, and all the money in his account transferred, leaving him with nothing.

” We have not been quiet. For every incident, we have promptly contacted the police. We have visited nearby police stations and even the Osun State Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Yet, there has been no tangible improvement. Just this last night, when we reached out to the police, they mentioned that they do not have functional operational vehicles to respond. This is highly unacceptable.

The Students’ Union therefore call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and The Osun State Government to act decisively to restore security around the Obafemi Awolowo University environment.

The Union also tasked Osun State Government, the Osun State Police Command, and the Ife Central Local Government Authority to immediately provide functional patrol and operational vehicles to police formations and the Amotekuns in and around Ife.

Similarly, the Union demands the Nigerian Police Force to urgently increase patrol presence and deploy special tactical units to the student-populated areas of Ife and charged the Federal and State Ministries of Education to accelerate efforts to fund and build more hostels on campus, as students are forced to live off-campus due to inadequate accommodation.

While tasking the University Management to engage in active dialogue with relevant authorities to ensure better security for her students and consider tightening security arrangements for student hostels and outside campus, the Union concluded to resolve to protest and demonstration if demands are not treated.

Salient Reporters