Robbers Invade UNIOSUN Hostels, Church, Rape Students

SUSPECTED armed robbers invaded private hostels of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo, in the early hours of Friday, beating the occupants and making away with their possessions like cash, laptops and mobile phones.

They said that some female occupants of the hostels, located outside the campus, were raped during the attack.

A source said efforts by some male students to resist the attack were futile, given the sophisticated arms carried by the bandits.

The bandits also visited a church in the area during a vigil and ransacked the place.

The head of the church, Reverend John Ojo, told Saturday Tribune that the robbers chased out the worshippers, who included students of the university, during the vigil.

He said many of the students sustained injuries while running away from the scene.

According to Reverend Ojo, the robbers stormed the area around 1.30 a.m. and operated for nearly two hours.

He lamented that the management of the university could not do anything to help the students.

“The students have been experiencing incessant robbery attacks since January and the management has ignored them under the excuse that they are off campus,” he said.

Two of the victims of the attack, Toyin Banjo (200 Biochemistry) and Ayeni Tosin (200 Electrical Engineering), said they were in the church when the robbers arrived.

“They forced the windows of the church open after they had dealt with others in the hostels. Many of us sustained injuries while running in the night for safety,” one of them said.

They added that the police arrived after the robbers had left the area.

The state state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs Folasade Odoro, confirmed the incident, saying investigation into it had begun.