A Lawmaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Bisi Oluranti Oyewo-Micheal, on Wednesday moved a Matter of Urgent Public Importance, calling on the state government to immediately strengthen security around Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, following a surge in armed robbery attacks on students.
The lawmaker, who represents Ogbomoso North Constituency, told the House that students living in areas such as Stadium, Adenike, and Under-G have come under repeated night-time attacks in recent weeks. According to her, robbers armed with guns, machetes and other weapons now invade hostels almost nightly, leaving many students traumatised, displaced, and struggling academically.
She cited a recent incident on November 6, when armed men stormed the Pastor Bode Twins Hostel in the Under-G area at about 2:00 a.m., forcing terrified students to flee their rented apartments.
The situation escalated further on November 12 when the private residence of the Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government, Hon. George Ogunlade, was attacked by a large gang of armed men who arrived in a bus. The invasion heightened panic across the community, she said.
Hon. Micheal noted that the criminals often steal laptops, phones, money, and sometimes force students to transfer funds under duress. Several of these cases, she added, have been reported to the Owode Police Station in Ogbomoso.
She warned that the unending attacks are taking a severe psychological toll on students, exposing them to fear, anxiety, trauma, and potential post-traumatic stress. The insecurity, she said, has also crippled economic activities in affected communities.
The lawmaker stressed the urgent need to protect lives and property within the university’s surroundings and across Ogbomoso, saying LAUTECH remains a major academic heritage of Oyo State that must be safeguarded.
In her resolutions, she urged the Executive Arm of Government to immediately beef up security within the LAUTECH residential axis. She also called on the Oyo State Commissioner of Police to deploy more officers, investigate the attacks, and ensure the perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted.
Hon. Micheal further asked the LAUTECH management to collaborate with security agencies to stabilise the learning environment, and appealed to local Landlords’ Associations in the affected areas to implement stronger security measures.
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