Students of the University of Ibadan(UI) living at hostels off the campus as well as residents of areas adjoining the university are living in fear due to the incessant robbery, cult attacks, The Nation has learnt.
Some students and other residents have been attacked and injured during the repeated robbery operations around the university environs.
Several students,who spoke to our correspondent, lamented how armed gangs were capitalising on the lack of security to rob them of their valuables including mobile phones, laptops and other gadgets.
The Nation gathered that the suspected criminals, armed with sophisticated weapons, in past weeks have invaded off-campus hostels at Agbowo community, Barika, and other residential areas close to the university around Ibadan North LGA.
Some of the traumatised students, who were victims of these attacks, told our correspondent that they have been forced to flee the area because it is fast becoming a den of thieves.
Weeks ago, the armed gangs stormed a private hostel in Agbowo area.
They reportedly scaled the fence and landed in the hostel, broke doors to gain entry and shot sporadically to scare the students.
The students union, in an open letter on Friday titled: “Address insecurity now, our students are dying” signed by its president Adewole Yinka Mascot, carpeted the Makinde-led administration for not doing enough on the security of lives and properties of students.
The union requested that an emergency meeting be called with all security agencies present to chart the way forward on the current situation.
They further urged the governor to consider the issue of insecurity as a top priority as failure to address the issues might lead to mass mobilisation of students.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State Command, Adewale Osifeso for comments proved abortive.
