Tension gripped the Ekiti State University (EKSU) community yesterday after reports emerged that two armed assailants attacked students at the popular Iworoko Mountain area, dispossessing them of their valuables and inflicting fear across the campus environment.
Eyewitnesses disclosed that the attackers, armed with cutlasses and canes, ambushed a group of students who had gone to the mountain for leisure. The suspects reportedly forced the victims to kneel down at gunpoint before seizing over 50 mobile phones and other personal items. The assault, which occurred in broad daylight, has sparked panic among students and residents in the surrounding area.
According to student sources, the victims were left traumatized as the assailants fled into the nearby bushes after the operation. No serious injuries were reported, but the loss of valuables and the psychological distress have raised serious security concerns among EKSU undergraduates.
In response to the incident, the management of Ekiti State University has issued a strong advisory urging all students to avoid the Iworoko Mountain vicinity until further notice. The institution emphasized that students’ safety remains its top priority and assured that measures are being taken in collaboration with local security agencies to restore calm.
The University Security Unit, in partnership with the Ekiti State Police Command, has reportedly launched an investigation to track down the perpetrators. Preliminary intelligence suggests that the attackers might be part of a small gang that has previously targeted isolated areas around Iworoko.
Authorities have also stepped up patrols along routes leading to the mountain, warning residents and students against unnecessary movement in the area, especially during early mornings and late evenings. Security operatives have promised to make arrests soon and recover stolen items.
Meanwhile, students have taken to social media to express outrage over the attack, calling on both the university and the state government to improve campus security and community policing. Many expressed fear that such incidents, if unchecked, could discourage outdoor and social activities that are part of student life.
A student union representative described the attack as “a wake-up call for stronger collaboration between the university and local authorities,” adding that “students must not be left at the mercy of hoodlums.”
Community leaders in Iworoko have also appealed for calm, pledging to cooperate with law enforcement to ensure the culprits are apprehended. They urged residents to provide useful information that could aid investigations.
As of press time, the police had yet to make any official statement, but university authorities reiterated their advice: “All EKSU students are strongly warned to stay away from Iworoko Mountain until security operatives confirm the area safe.” Students are further encouraged to remain vigilant, report suspicious movements, and prioritize safety over social adventures.
