We live in constant fear of robbers, say OAU off-campus students

 
Bola Bamigbola, Osogbo
Following the killing of one Abiodun Babalola, a 300-level student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in the early hours of Sunday by armed robbers, many students of the institution living outside the campus have shared their experience in the hands of the men of the underworld, who constantly attack them.

Babalola suffered machete cut at an off-campus hostel named, ‘Adam and Eve’, located in Parakin, Ede Road, Ile-Ife, for allegedly refusing to surrender his iPhone to the robbers, who attacked residents of the hostel
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We live in constant fear of robbers, say OAU off-campus students
Published
December 26, 2018
Bola Bamigbola, Osogbo
Following the killing of one Abiodun Babalola, a 300-level student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in the early hours of Sunday by armed robbers, many students of the institution living outside the campus have shared their experience in the hands of the men of the underworld, who constantly attack them.
Babalola suffered machete cut at an off-campus hostel named, ‘Adam and Eve’, located in Parakin, Ede Road, Ile-Ife, for allegedly refusing to surrender his iPhone to the robbers, who attacked residents of the hostel.
Many students of the institution, who spoke to our correspondent on the incident and the plight of many residing off-campus, said areas with large student population often experience frequent attacks by robbers.

The areas include Mayfair, AP, Aserifa, Ibadan Road, Ede Road and Parakin.
Investigations showed that robbery attacks on students of the university became rampant when squatters were sent out of hostels within the campus by the management of the institution at the beginning of the 2017/2018 academic session.

The development subsequently led to an increase in the number of students living outside the campus as well as rise in rents in areas close to the campus, where many of the students took up accommodation.

A student in the Faculty of Engineering, who lives in the Mayfair area, Tobi Olagunju, told our correspondent that two weeks ago, he lost personal belongings to some thieves, who accosted him while he was returning home around 8.30pm
“I was returning home after a group discussion with some of my classmates. It happened exactly two weeks ago.

The men were holding knives; they accosted me and demanded my phone and power bank, which I was holding. I promptly released the items to them and they didn’t hurt me,” he stated.

A student in the Department of Management and Accounting, Faculty of Administration, Laura Ozegbe, who resides in a hostel on the Ede Road, while narrating how her residence was attacked by robbers, said, “It was on May 30, 2018, between 1am and 3am; they came in a car and parked at a neighbour’s house.

“They scaled the fence that we shared with the neighbour and entered our house. The robbers came with shotguns and literally split the door of my room into halves.

“My room was the last one to be robbed and they took away my phone and that of my sister. They later asked us for money but we didn’t have, so they cocked their guns and threatened to shoot us if we didn’t give them money.
“After much pleading, they eventually left with the phones and a laptop. Till date, I am still scared every night. Even though the door to my room is now made of steel, it still doesn’t take away my fear.”

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