The students of Prince Abubakar Audu University, (formerly Kogi State University) Anyigba Campus, have expressed the increasing spate of armed robbery operations in the university community, Dekina Local Government Area of the state.
The students told PUNCH Metro on Monday that some armed robbers burgled hostels off campus and carted students’ belongings, especially gadgets. They said the robberies were rampant in the school area, and claimed that no solution had yet to be proffered.
Our correspondent learnt that the robbers operated at midnight with guns, machetes, and other dangerous weapons. In a recent video following last Tuesday’s robbery made available to our correspondent, the doors of the burgled apartment, despite being metallic, were broken into.
A student, who identified as Michael Benedict, said the disturbing activities of the robbers was a threat to the safety of students living in the host community. He also disclosed to our correspondent their atrocities and the plans to manage the situation.
“The robbery is getting too much. The last time they came to rob us, they came around 2am, they stole an occupant’s motorcycle, but today, they stole expensive gadgets. They made offers to some girls that they should choose between collecting their phones, and sleeping with them, or they should forfeit the gadgets.
“I saw their faces the first time they robbed my hostel, these ones are not students. None of them is below 40 years. They are matured men. I heard them say, “Axe men are here” and slangs like ‘Awua.’ Those thieves have robbed my friend’s hostel four times this year around this Stadium Road.
“Some students now patrol at odd hours for security purposes due to the activities of these perpetrators because we are tired. What we are planning in our hostel is for us to join other students to do this night patrol for our safety, so if we observe any suspicious movement, we will inform the vigilante man in this area. The police are not doing anything as regards this effect. They are only good at extorting people,” he lamented.
Another student who simply identified himself as Daniel said students were not safe as there was no provision for security for those residing outside the school campus.
“Students’ lives are not safe; the level of insecurity in the place is alarming. There is little the vigilante men can do, as they usually get to the scene after the deed had been done.
“Recently, about six robbers stormed my friend’s hostel, they wanted to shoot him for stopping them from entering his apartment, but he ran to the hotel to hide. So, they later broke in and carted away his gadgets including and those of his cousin. That was not the first time; they rob that particular lodge often.
“The police are not doing anything to stop the robberies. I suggest there should be police patrol at night so it can scare the armed robbers off the community,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Kogi Police Command, William Ovye-Aya, instructed our correspondent to send a text, but he did not respond to our enquiries as of the time of filing this report.
