Panic as Gunmen Attack EKSU Student Hostels in Ado-Ekiti

By Abah Margaret

There was widespread panic late Monday night after suspected gunmen attacked off-campus hostels of students of Ekiti State University (EKSU) in Ado-Ekiti, forcing many to flee for safety.

Eyewitnesses said the armed attackers stormed multiple hostels, moving from one building to another while robbing students of valuables, including mobile phones, laptops, and cash.

A student of the institution, identified by the X (formerly Twitter) handle @yapperaholicc, confirmed the incident in a post shared in the early hours of Tuesday. The student described the attack as recurring, raising concerns over the safety of students in the area.

In the post, the student wrote, “Armed men are attacking students in their hostels in EKSU at midnight.” The student added that the incident occurred in the Phase 2 area of the university community, lamenting that students preparing for examinations were disrupted.

“It has been going on for three days now. They are also robbing us. Please help us repost,” the post further read.

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Ekiti State Police Command, Abutu Sunday, disclosed that one suspect has been arrested in connection with the attack, while investigations are ongoing.

“A suspect has been arrested and is currently undergoing investigation. Necessary measures have also been put in place to prevent a recurrence,” the police spokesperson said.

As of the time of filing this report, no fatalities had been confirmed, while the exact value of items stolen remains unclear.

The incident has once again drawn attention to growing insecurity around tertiary institutions in Nigeria, particularly in off-campus hostels where students are often exposed due to inadequate security measures.

Students of EKSU have called on the state government and security agencies to intensify patrols and provide improved protection in areas surrounding the university.