Students across tertiary institutions in Ogun State are raising alarm over worsening insecurity, as recurring incidents of armed robbery, rape, kidnapping and killings continue to threaten academic activities and lives.

For Blessing, a Higher National Diploma (HND) II student of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, in Remo North Local Government Area, survival has become as important as academic success.

“We are not safe here. We are living our lives 50-50 because anything can happen at any time,” she told DAILY POST.

Like thousands of students in Ogun State, Blessing said her biggest concern is no longer acquiring educational materials but staying alive amid escalating criminal activities around campuses and student communities.

According to her, criminals have adopted increasingly dangerous tactics, forcing victims to lure neighbours out of their rooms during robbery operations.

“I avoid staying out late because what they are doing these days is they’ll go to someone else’s door, once the person opens the door, then they’ll take the person to the next door and ask the person to knock and call out the other person with their voice,” she said.

She recalled a recent robbery incident in Ipara where residents could only listen helplessly as victims cried for help in the dead of night.

“Recently, they robbed here in Ipara. We heard the girl screaming ‘thief, thief’ but nobody could come outside because it was late. I started praying silently for them not to come to my door,” she added.

Her fears are shared by many students following the kidnapping of five Gateway ICT Polytechnic students last month along the Isara-Ode Road. The victims were reportedly returning from a restaurant when armed men posing as security operatives flagged down their vehicle and abducted them. They were later rescued by the Ogun State Police Command.

Troubling Statistics

Findings by DAILY POST revealed that Gateway ICT Polytechnic has recorded no fewer than 105 robbery incidents between 2009 and 2026, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 students.

The alarming trend sparked a major protest in 2023 after armed robbers allegedly killed two students, shot nine others and raped a female student during an attack affecting communities surrounding the institution, including Ode-Remo, Ipara and Isara.

The protests compelled the institution’s management to temporarily shut down academic activities for three days while student leaders demanded urgent government intervention.

Similar Attacks Across Campuses

The security crisis is not limited to Gateway ICT Polytechnic.

In April 2026, suspected gunmen reportedly attacked student hostels at the College of Engineering of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ibogun Campus, dispossessing students of phones, laptops and other valuables.

Barely two weeks later, another armed gang invaded the area, shooting sporadically and stealing a Lexus ES 350 car and several mobile phones after operating for nearly two hours.

President of the Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association at OOU, Ibogun, Oluwafemi Aderupatan, blamed the recurring attacks on inadequate security presence around the campus.

Similarly, students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, have faced repeated security breaches.

In 2023, four female students were reportedly raped during a robbery attack in Abapawa community. Then-Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele visited the victims and pledged government support while assuring students that measures would be taken to prevent future occurrences.

However, another incident occurred in July 2024 when two female freshmen were reportedly robbed and raped at an off-campus residence. Police later arrested a suspect, identified as Olayemi Shedrack, in connection with the crimes.

Polytechnic Convenes Emergency Security Summit

In response to growing concerns, Gateway ICT Polytechnic recently organised an emergency security summit following the death of a student during a robbery attack and the kidnapping of five others.

Rector of the institution, Dr. Sanni Oseni, described security as a collective responsibility requiring collaboration among students, management, host communities, security agencies and government authorities.

“At the Gateway ICT Polytechnic, we believe that security is not solely the responsibility of security agencies. It is a shared duty that involves every stakeholder,” Oseni said.

The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Adedayo Musari, revealed that one of the recent victims was shot while attempting to prevent robbers from gaining entry into his hostel room.

“The boy who was killed on Saturday was shot while trying to shield his door from the robbers. The bullet hit him in the chest. While attempting to escape, he fell into a gutter, and the robbers shot him in the leg,” Musari said.

According to him, records indicate 15 robbery incidents in Ode-Remo, 32 in Isara and 58 in Ipara between 2009 and 2026, with a combined death toll of 21 students.

Musari also urged landlords to properly verify prospective tenants, alleging that some criminals disguise themselves as students.

School Raises Alarm Over Criminal Hideouts

The institution further appealed to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, to strengthen security in the area.

Musari alleged that some commercial motorcyclists assist criminal elements operating around student communities and identified a location known as Pakiama in Ode-Remo as a notorious hideout where suspects often evade arrest.

“There is a joint called Pakiama. It is a no-go area for security agencies. Whenever a criminal enters the area, he or she will be rescued or hidden,” he claimed.

Community Demands Action

Chairman of the Ode-Remo Development Council, Olufunso Afolabi, described the attacks as unacceptable and called for immediate intervention.

He demanded the deployment of additional security personnel, installation of surveillance systems, improved street lighting, regulation of off-campus accommodations and the establishment of rapid-response units.

“The lives of students are not negotiable. Ode-Remo cannot and will not be seen as a community where young lives are cut short due to preventable security failures,” Afolabi stated.

He also advocated the creation of a joint security task force involving the institution, community leaders, law enforcement agencies and youth groups.

Expert Blames Lifestyle Factors

Security consultant, Comrade Kunle Sodipo, attributed some of the risks to students’ lifestyles, arguing that displays of wealth often attract criminal attention.

He noted that the use of expensive gadgets and conspicuous spending could make students vulnerable to attacks.

“In a country where people struggle economically, running generators all night and flaunting expensive phones sends signals that attract criminals,” he said.

Sodipo urged authorities to intensify security awareness campaigns and incorporate security education into school curricula.

Police Assure Students of Protection

Reacting to the concerns, the spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, assured students and residents that the command had intensified intelligence-led operations around campuses.

He said several suspects linked to armed robbery and other violent crimes had been arrested, while police recently foiled a cult initiation attempt within a student community.

According to him, Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni has directed Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to maintain regular engagement with school authorities and community leaders.

Babaseyi disclosed that a dedicated police post had been approved for the OOU Ibogun campus to improve response time and enhance police visibility.

“The Ogun State Police Command has sustained intelligence-led and preventive policing across tertiary institutions and surrounding student communities,” he said.

Despite the assurances, students say they remain anxious, insisting that visible action rather than promises is needed to restore confidence and allow them to pursue their education without fear.