Two students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, were injured in a robbery attack that targeted student hostels located outside the university campus. The incident adds to growing concerns about student safety, especially off-campus.

It was also revealed that one student has been missing under mysterious circumstances for over two months, sparking further anxiety within the university community.

The attack occurred around 11 p.m. on Monday night, when armed assailants—wielding cutlasses and a gun—stormed multiple student hostels, broke windows, and stole belongings including mobile phones, laptops, and cash.

Images from the scene showed bloodstains on a room floor and a shattered burglar-proof window, indicating the violence of the incident.

Speaking by phone, a student identified as Daniel explained that two hostels were targeted. “The armed robbers came to the hostel at about 10:49 p.m. One student who resisted handing over his phone was slashed with a cutlass,” he said.

“They moved on to Peace Hostel, stole more items, and when some of us tried to confront them, they fired shots into the air, and we had to retreat. The Students’ Union rescued the injured students and took them to the university health centre.”

A police patrol team reportedly arrived after the attack to assess the area.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Students’ Union Government condemned the recent spike in attacks. It also highlighted the unresolved case of a missing student, Dorcas Oseghale, who has not been seen for over two months. The union noted that another student narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt the previous Sunday night near a student-dominated area.

“Dorcas’s disappearance has deeply unsettled students, exposing how vulnerable off-campus residents have become,” the union stated. “Another student was nearly kidnapped but managed to escape while being transferred to another vehicle.”

“Just last night (Monday), robbers attacked two hostels in Moremi Estate. Armed with weapons, they beat several students and left two seriously injured. Students’ Union officials transported them to the health centre before any police presence was seen.”

The union urged the state government and the Inspector-General of Police to act urgently to protect students and prevent future incidents.

In a related statement, the university’s Students’ Representative Council (SRC) echoed the concerns, describing the situation as a “climate of fear and uncertainty.” The council said attacks on hostels in Moremi Estate have become disturbingly frequent.

“This is not an isolated incident. It’s part of an alarming trend that has continued for too long, while authorities responsible for student safety remain silent,” the SRC said.

The SRC strongly criticised the Osun State Government and local security agencies for what it described as inaction, despite ongoing security funding.

The council called on Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, and the Divisional Police Officer of Moore Division to take immediate and decisive action, stressing that students’ lives are not expendable.

They also urged university authorities to address the root cause of the insecurity—lack of sufficient on-campus accommodation. Thousands of students are forced to live off-campus due to limited housing options.

Attempts to reach the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, were unsuccessful, as his phone was switched off, and messages sent to him went undelivered.

The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, stated that the command had not been informed of the incident. He advised the affected students to report the attack at the nearest police station for proper documentation and response.

“I am not aware of such an incident in Ile-Ife. If they had reported to the closest division, I would have been informed,” he said. “The estate should also consider hiring private security for added protection.”

Robbery attacks on students living off-campus have become increasingly common in Nigerian universities. In July 2025, students at a university in Ogun State reportedly resorted to organizing self-defense patrols after a series of violent robberies. In a separate incident in 2022, students at a university in Ibadan experienced multiple hostel invasions where gunmen injured students and stole valuables.

Experts link the rising trend of such attacks to a range of issues, including inadequate campus housing, poor street lighting, insufficient police presence, and the spillover of urban crime into student neighborhoods.