Panic gripped the Oke Odo community of Ilorin, Kwara State, following a violent armed robbery at student hostels housing undergraduates of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) late Friday night. The assailants, reportedly arriving on foot, struck around midnight, targeting two male hostels and carting away valuables including mobile phones, laptops, and cash.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the robbers, who operated without restraint, forcibly entered rooms and inflicted injuries on those who resisted. “They robbed three out of four rooms and left the only girl untouched. One of the victims wasn’t even a student—he was just visiting,” a student resident told reporters. In one of the rooms, a male occupant who resisted the robbers was reportedly beaten with a cutlass and sustained serious injuries.
“We heard gunshots and couldn’t come out to help. He kept screaming for help until someone rushed him to the hospital,” said another resident. The attackers reportedly locked victims inside their rooms before fleeing. A student eventually broke through a window with a cutlass to help others escape.
The injured student is currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital and was said to be recovering as of Sunday evening.
The robbers’ decision to arrive on foot limited their ability to steal large electronics like televisions and generators. However, the psychological impact of the raid has left students rattled and questioning their safety. As of press time, neither the University management nor police authorities have released an official statement regarding the attack.
This incident comes amid a rising wave of insecurity around student communities in Kwara State. In May, two female UNILORIN students were reportedly attacked by a serial robber while conducting research at a university farm. The suspect, previously arrested for similar offences, had been released before reoffending.
Likewise, students of Kwara State University (KWASU) in Malete have reportedly begun relocating from campus hostels following a string of armed robberies and rape incidents. The increasing unrest prompted community leaders to impose night-time restrictions in an effort to stem further attacks.
With growing fear among students and mounting concerns from families, calls have intensified for both university authorities and state security agencies to take urgent action to secure off-campus student accommodations and prevent further tragedies.
