OAU students demand improved security amid off-campus robbery surge

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, are calling for urgent action to address a growing wave of robberies targeting off-campus students, particularly in the Moremi Estate area.

In a statement released Tuesday by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), and jointly signed by Speaker Awe Ademola, Deputy Speaker Nasir Hameed, and Clerk Ayeni Deborah, the student body condemned the rising insecurity, describing the situation as a “climate of fear and uncertainty.”

According to the SRC, a robbery occurred around 11 p.m. on Sunday at Oreoluwa Hostel in Moremi Estate. The attackers reportedly assaulted students, stole their belongings, and left several injured.

“This is not an isolated incident. It reflects a disturbing pattern of violence that continues unchecked while those responsible for public safety remain silent,” the statement read.

The council criticized the Osun State Government and law enforcement agencies for their inaction, despite repeated attacks and the allocation of security funds. They demanded swift and decisive intervention from Governor Ademola Adeleke, the state’s Commissioner of Police, and the Divisional Police Officer of the Moore Division.

“Students’ lives are not expendable,” the SRC emphasized.

The statement also urged the university administration to tackle the root cause of the issue by expanding on-campus housing. It noted that many students are forced to live off-campus due to inadequate hostel space.

“The only lasting solution is to bring students back to campus. Safety can’t be ensured when thousands are left vulnerable off-campus,” it added.

In response, Osun Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the command had not received a report about the incident.Police equipment sales

“I’m not aware of any robbery in Ile-Ife. If the students report to the nearest station, we’ll act accordingly. The estate should also consider hiring guards for extra security,” Ojelabi stated.