How My Farm Cutlass Was Used to Injure My Neighbour During Moremi Estate Hostel Robbery — Students Share Ordeal

Akinade Peter Ayomide

On the night of May 18 to 19, 2025, thieves attacked a hostel in Moremi Estate, Ile-Ife, Osun State. The robbers broke into seven of the twenty rooms, injured one student with a cutlass, and stole phones, laptops, and PlayStations. The attack left students scared and worried about their safety.

Two students, Yakub and Samuel, spoke about their experience. Samuel said he was sleeping when he heard loud noises outside. “I heard people trying to break a door. Someone said they were armed robbers,” he said. Yakub said the robbers only got into seven rooms because the students quickly warned each other. “I woke up because it was hot, and I heard noise getting louder. We sent messages on our WhatsApp group to call for help,” he said.

The robbers climbed over barbed wires and cut the electric fence to enter the hostel. They did not speak to the students directly, but Yakub said they used his farm cutlass to hurt his neighbor. The neighbor has been treated and is now fine. Both students said they were not physically hurt but were very scared. Yakub said, “I was scared and ashamed, but I’m okay now.” Samuel said, “I was scared but I’m fine now.”

The robbers stole phones, laptops, and PlayStations but left TVs. Samuel’s room was not broken into, but the rooms near his were robbed. The students called for help during the attack and used their WhatsApp group to alert others.

The hostel management sent their condolences but did not call the police. Yakub said, “We protested, but nothing was done. The school has not provided security guards.” Samuel said his father has already paid for him to move to a safer hostel.

Before the attack, Samuel noticed some strange motorbikes riding around without passengers. Yakub did not notice anything but thinks the robbers planned the attack carefully. The students have talked about raising the hostel fence, but nothing has been done.

Samuel said, “Vigilantes should watch carefully, and the estate needs better lighting.” Yakub said the robbery will affect their lives and studies for a long time.

The students are urging hostel management, the university, and security agencies to take urgent action to improve security. They call for better lighting, constant vigilante patrols, and stronger fences to protect those living off-campus. Without these changes, students fear that such attacks will continue to threaten their lives and studies in Ile-Ife.