NIGERIA: No fewer than 11 university students were killed, and 22 others kidnapped in the last three months, Saturday PUNCH investigation reveals.
The affected students were victims of different violent incidents including robbery attacks which occurred across Nigerian universities over the past three months, reports The PUNCH.
As parts of the fatalities, a final-year student of the Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Favour Ugwuka, on May 22, 2024 committed suicide in her hostel at the Ishieke Campus of the school.
Also in May, a 200-level engineering student at the Ajayi Crowther University in Oyo State, Alex Timileyi, was clubbed to death by his colleague over a claim that he stole a mobile phone.
In the same month, two female students of the Joseph Sarwuan University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State were kidnapped by gunmen.
Similarly, two students of Confluence State University of Science and Technology in Lokoja, Kogi State capital were kidnapped on Thursday, 9th May, and killed on Saturday, 25th May, 2024.
On 13th June, a female student of the University of Benin, Adekolore Glory, was also raped to death at the Iyowa Community in Benin City.
In June, a fresh graduate of the Department of Quantity Surveying, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Ifunanya Miracle lost her life during an attempt to escape a yet-to-be-identified prankster’s robbery on the premises of the school in the Anambra State capital, while her friend, Peace, was rushed to the hospital after sustaining varying degrees of injury.
In another month, July 2024, a 100-level student of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Favour Okenyi was reportedly missing after attending a chemistry practical and her body was later found near the Eni Njoku male hostel, around the varsity’s stadium junction.
In the same month, a student of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Modupe Ayandare, was found dead outside the university campus.
Also in July, a final-year student of the Tai Solarin University of Education, Hammed Fabiyi, was killed by suspected cultists after he was reportedly dragged out of the examination hall while writing his final papers.
Similarly that month, a final-year student of the Niger Delta University, Francis Palowei, was at the Sand Dump, a popular spot among the students for relaxation and socialising when some youths in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa stabbed him to death when he failed to give them N150.
Two days ago, at the University of Ilorin, some yet-to-be-identified students and a shuttle driver got involved in a fatal auto crash at the school’s main gate, which led to the death of a student.
