Fear and outrage have gripped students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, following a brutal midnight attack by suspected armed herders on their off-campus hostels. The assailants reportedly looted valuables, including expensive mobile phones, and allegedly killed two individuals in the process.
According to reports from SaharaReporters, the attack occurred in the early hours of Monday at the Stadium Area and Under G axis of Ogbomoso. Witnesses recounted how armed men, believed to be herders, stormed multiple private hostels, forcefully breaking into rooms and making away with valuable gadgets.
“The situation is terrifying,” one student lamented. “Around 2 a.m., they invaded our hostel and nearby hotels, robbing both students and guests. They carried weapons—guns, machetes—and took phones, money, and other valuables. They even forced students to reveal their passwords.”
The attack was not only financially devastating but also deadly. Multiple sources confirmed that at least two people were killed, while several others sustained severe injuries. Victims who resisted had their phones forcefully taken, and some were brutally beaten, leaving a number hospitalized.
One of the students who narrowly escaped the attack described the growing sense of fear in the LAUTECH community.
“Fulani herdsmen came to a hostel near the stadium, but luckily, I wasn’t around,” he said. “They looted hostels, but at Under G, we heard they killed someone. This is getting out of control.”
The attack has sparked widespread panic, with students and concerned citizens taking to social media to demand urgent intervention from security agencies.
A user on X (formerly Twitter), @Mars2rano, decried the deteriorating security situation:
This situation is getting worse every day. Our campus is turning into a hub for criminal activity. We urgently need tightened security in school areas. To all security personnel—from the DPO of Ogbomoso North to Adenike, Under G, and Yoaco—we’re tired of living in fear! Please help us secure our school areas. We can’t sleep anymore.”
Another student added:
> “The environment is now unbearable! Sleeping at night has become a nightmare. Our lives are at risk. Please, something must be done!”
Despite the growing alarm, efforts to obtain official comments from security agencies have proven futile. The Oyo State regional security outfit, Amotekun, has reportedly been briefed, but their spokesperson, Mrs. Ayolola Adedoja, claimed she was unaware of the incident when contacted.
Similarly, repeated attempts to reach the Oyo State Police Command for a response were met with silence. The state’s police spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, ignored multiple calls and failed to respond to inquiries regarding the attack.
The brazen attack has reignited concerns over the safety of students in off-campus accommodations, with many questioning the failure of security agencies to prevent such violent crimes. Residents and students alike are calling on the Oyo State Government to take decisive action before the situation spirals further out of control.
As the LAUTECH community mourns the lives lost and grapples with the trauma of this attack, the urgent demand for justice and security remains louder than ever. Will the authorities finally act, or will students continue to live in constant fear?
PIONEER NEWS 