Students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have called for urgent security intervention to curb the rising cases of robbery attacks on students living off-campus, particularly in the Moremi Estate area.
In a statement released on Tuesday by the Great Ife Students’ Representative Council (SRC), and signed by Speaker Awe Ademola, Deputy Speaker Nasir Hameed, and Clerk Ayeni Deborah, the council condemned the “climate of fear and uncertainty” that has gripped student communities following repeated violent attacks.
According to the SRC, around 11 p.m. on Sunday, suspected robbers invaded Oreoluwa Hostel in Moremi Estate, dispossessing students of their valuables and leaving some injured.
“This is not an isolated event; it is part of a disturbing pattern that has continued unchecked while those responsible for protecting lives and property remain silent,” the statement read.
The SRC faulted the Osun State Government and security agencies for their “failure to act” despite recurrent security votes, urging Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, and the DPO of Moore Division to take immediate and decisive action.
It also appealed to the university management to address the root cause of students’ vulnerability by expanding on-campus accommodation.
“The lasting solution lies in returning more students to campus. Safety cannot be guaranteed when thousands are left to fend for themselves off-campus,” the council noted.
When contacted, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the command had not received any report of the incident. He urged the affected students to report the robbery to the nearest police station for proper documentation and investigation.
“I’m not aware of such an incident. If it had been reported, the command would have been informed. The students should report to the nearest station, and the estate should consider employing guards for additional security,”
Ojelabi said.
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