1 Killed, 9 Others Shot as Armed Robbers Invade Students’ Hostel

One student was killed on Friday when suspected armed robbers attacked the Gateway Polytechnic (ICT), Sapaade, Ogun State. During the attack, the gunmen also shot nine other students of the institution.

The fresh attack came barely a week after students protested the alleged robbery and rape of female students of the polytechnic by hoodlums.

It was gathered that students residing at the off-campus hostels located at Ode, Ipara and Ishara, all adjoining communities to Sapaade, the host of the institution, were mostly affected by the incident.

Following the students’ protest last week on Tuesday, the management shut down the institution for three days to restore sanity to the polytechnic.

The Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, also held a meeting with the students’ leaders over the rising tension around the students’ communities.

However, the suspected robbers returned to Ode, one of the communities in the early hours of Saturday and attacked the students.

One of the students told Daily Trust that the gun-wielding hoodlums invaded the students’ hostels around 3:00pm and unleashed terror on them.

The source added that the attack which took place in the Larufi area of Ode left one dead and nine others injured, including a landlord.

In some of the viral clips of the attack, shattered doors, broken windows and walls riddled with bullet holes were observed.

It was gathered that the robbers used heavy stones to break some windows to force their way into the hostels.

“I heard a gunshot around 3:00am and when I woke up this morning, I was told they shot nine students and one landlord. They were taken to the hospital, but one died. They stole a car to escape,” one of the students told Daily Trust.

A senior lecturer at the polytechnic confirmed the attack, saying six were shot of which one died.

“According to the story I heard, the guy that was shot (dead) is not our student, he graduated last session hopefully expecting to come back for his HND next session,” the lecturer said.

He described the incessant attacks on students as unfortunate.

“It is quite unfortunate that the government has deviated from the agreement between the state and citizens. Protection of lives and property are nothing to write home about in this country where our environment is not left out,” the lecturer added.

The Police Spokesman, Omolola Odutola, was yet to responded to calls and messages sent to him as of the time of this report.