By: SODIQ KAMILUDEEN
Agbowo is one of the communities surrounding the premier and prestigious University of Ibadan. It houses communities like Barika, Water, Ajetunmobi, and others. It is perhaps the most populated environment where students live off-campus.
Since the management of the University decided not to initially provide accommodation to the students as a measure to curtail covid-19 pandemic, many students due to its proximity to the University found themselves at Agbowo during the virtual classes and even the subsequent migration to physical class. Many students settled for Agbowo despite the exorbitant house rent being charged by the landlords in the community.
The recent high rate of insecurity which has caused palpable tension and has wreck havoc mostly on the students living in this community prompted and necessitated this write-up. The insecurity has deteriorated and nosedived to the extent that residents cannot sleep with their two eyes closed in the community. It has gotten to a stage where it cannot be condoned any longer. There have been many cases of high-level robberies and theft perpetrated by these evil people who are mostly of young age. Their targets are the students living in the community.
There have been reported and confirmed cases of theft, robberies, bullying even killing in Agbowo recent due to the prevailing insecurity. I have been a witness to two of such cases. My roommate’s friend was robbed right inside his room, with his phones and other valuables stolen. He was partially injured when he wanted to contest with them.
The second one I witnessed was when some people apprehended one of the boys perpetrating this heinous crime. He was arrested while trying to rob a student who was just coming from an overnight reading). I was also returning from TDB around 6am in the morning when the boy was arrested and tortured. This insecurity needs immediate intervention from the UI management and most especially, the Oyo State Government. Government should come to the rescue of the helpless students who cannot defend themselves in the hand of these robbers who are armed to the teeth with dangerous weapon.
Security agencies should be deployed in strategic areas where there have been reported cases of theft and robbery. Police and soldiers should be on patrol in Agbowo community. All stakeholders in the Agbowo community should work together to keep this dangerous trend in check.
Students are also advised to be careful and be suspicious of any unusual movement around their vicinity. They should report any form of suspicion to the relevant security agencies. They should also follow the safety tips as enunciated by the Student Union. Everybody should play their part to make sure that this menace is totally eradicated and completely nip in the bud.
Whoever is apprehended among these notorious criminals should not be spared. They should be made to face the full wrath of the law so that it will serve as a deterrent to others.
