Gunmen attack OOU students’ hostels, steal car, phones

Armed hoodlums have again attacked hostels occupied by students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ibogun campus, less than two weeks after a similar incident was reported in the area.

The latest attack reportedly occurred in the early hours of Friday when about seven gunmen invaded hostels housing students of the institution’s College of Engineering.

The attackers were said to have fired sporadically while robbing students of their valuables, including mobile phones and a Lexus ES 350 car belonging to one of the students.

Reports indicated that no fewer than 15 students were affected during the operation, which allegedly lasted between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.

President of the Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association at the campus, Oluwafemi Aderupatan, confirmed the incident on Friday.

He expressed concern over what he described as repeated attacks on students due to inadequate security around the institution.

“The armed robbers, about seven of them, attacked students in their hostels in the early hours of Friday,” he 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.”

Aderupatan stated that although the police later responded to distress calls, the attackers had already escaped before security operatives arrived.

He also criticised the delay in implementing security measures earlier promised by the police, school management and community leaders following a similar attack about two weeks ago.

According to him, the absence of a strong security presence has continued to expose students to attacks by criminals.

“We are equally not happy that the police post and robust security architecture promised after the previous attack have not become a reality,” he added.

The student leader appealed to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to intervene urgently to improve security around the campus.

Reacting to the incident, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed that the matter was under investigation.

“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 said.

The latest incident comes barely two weeks after suspected gunmen reportedly attacked students in the same area, injuring some victims and carting away valuables, including a vehicle and mobile phones.