For thousands of students pursuing higher education in Ogun State, academic success is increasingly taking a back seat to a more urgent concern — survival.
Across several tertiary institutions in the state, students say they now live under the constant threat of armed robbery, kidnapping, rape and violent attacks, raising serious concerns about security within and around campuses once regarded as safe environments for learning.
Among those grappling with this reality is Blessing, a Higher National Diploma (HND II) student of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, who described the atmosphere in her host community as one of perpetual fear.
“We are not safe here. We are living our lives 50-50 because anything can happen at any time,” she said.
According to her, criminals have become increasingly sophisticated in their operations, often forcing victims to lure neighbours out of their rooms before launching attacks.
“I avoid staying out late because what they do now is force one victim to knock on another person’s door and call them out. Recently, robbers attacked students in Ipara. We heard a girl screaming ‘thief, thief,’ but nobody could come out because it was late at night. I prayed silently that they would not come to my room,” she recalled.
Her fears are shared by many students across the institution and neighbouring communities of Isara, Ipara and Ode-Remo, where insecurity has become a recurring nightmare.
The concerns intensified last month when five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic were abducted along the Isara-Ode Road while returning from a restaurant.
The students reportedly mistook torchlight-wielding gunmen for police officers conducting a routine stop-and-search operation. After pulling over, they were allegedly kidnapped and taken away by the assailants before later being rescued by security operatives.
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The incident was the latest in a series of violent attacks that have plagued the institution and its host communities for years.
School authorities disclosed that between 2009 and 2026, more than 100 robbery incidents have been recorded around student communities linked to the institution, with over 20 students reportedly losing their lives during attacks.
The situation reached a boiling point in 2023 when students staged protests following a robbery operation that allegedly left two students dead, nine others injured by gunshots and a female student raped.
Demonstrators accused authorities of failing to protect students living off-campus and demanded urgent intervention.
Students at the College of Engineering, Olabisi Onabanjo University, have also reported repeated attacks by armed gangs.
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In April 2026, suspected gunmen reportedly invaded student hostels, shooting sporadically before carting away phones, laptops and other valuables.
Barely two weeks later, another gang allegedly struck again, operating for nearly two hours while robbing students and escaping with a Lexus ES 350 and several mobile phones.
President of the Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association at the campus, Oluwafemi Aderupatan, lamented the repeated attacks, attributing them to inadequate security presence around the institution.
Similarly, students of Tai Solarin University of Education have also experienced violent crimes.
In 2023, four female students were reportedly raped during a robbery operation in Abapawa community, prompting a visit by Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, who pledged government support for the victims.
A year later, in July 2024, two female freshmen were allegedly robbed and sexually assaulted at an off-campus residence. Police later arrested a suspect, identified as Olayemi Shedrack, in connection with the incident.
Reacting to the development, Chairman of the Ode-Remo Development Council, Olufunso Afolabi, said the continued attacks were damaging the reputation of both the community and the institution.
He called for the deployment of more security personnel, installation of surveillance systems, improved street lighting and the establishment of rapid response units.
“The lives of students are non-negotiable. There must be accountability and visible justice in handling reported cases,” Afolabi stated.
He also advocated the creation of a Joint Security Task Force involving community leaders, security agencies, school authorities and youth groups.
Security consultant and public relations practitioner, Kunle Sodipo, believes the rising insecurity around campuses reflects broader societal challenges confronting Nigeria.
According to him, some students inadvertently expose themselves to danger through conspicuous lifestyles that attract criminal attention.
He noted that the ownership of expensive gadgets, lavish spending habits and visible displays of wealth can make students easy targets for criminals seeking quick financial gains.
“In an economy where many people are struggling, running generators all night or displaying expensive phones can signal affluence to criminal elements,” he explained.
However, Sodipo stressed that student behaviour alone cannot explain the crisis.
Experts warn that many tertiary institutions have expanded rapidly without corresponding investment in security infrastructure, leaving students exposed to criminal networks operating within surrounding communities.