The Ekiti State Police Command has successfully apprehended two suspected members of a violent armed robbery syndicate responsible for the recent coordinated attacks on several off-campus student hostels at Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti. The arrests follow a harrowing incident that occurred in the early hours of Saturday, March 28, 2026, where a gang of approximately 30 armed men raided the Rosmat, Grace, and Mercy hostels in the Iworoko area. During the operation, which lasted for several hours, the criminals dispossessed dozens of students of their laptops, mobile phones, and cash, while leaving several others with varying degrees of physical injuries, including a security guard who sustained a severe machete wound to the head.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Ekiti State Command, SP Abutu Sunday, confirmed the breakthrough in a media briefing, stating that the suspects were caught following an intensive intelligence-led manhunt and a review of electronic evidence provided by the victims. The police spokesperson noted that one of the suspects was apprehended while attempting to dispose of a stolen mobile phone at a black market hub in the state capital. During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to being part of a larger network that specialized in targeting student residential areas during examination periods, when students are most vulnerable and possess high-value electronic gadgets for their studies.
The robbery had earlier triggered widespread panic and protests among the EKSU student body, with many calling on the state government under Governor Biodun Oyebanji to address the “security crisis” in the Iworoko axis. The Student Union Government (SUG), led by its executives, had lamented that the repeated attacks were affecting the mental well-being and academic performance of the students, leading many to vacate their hostels out of fear. In response to the outcry, the Commissioner of Police for Ekiti State has ordered a permanent increase in motorized patrols around all student-dense areas and the establishment of a rapid-response unit specifically for the Iworoko-Ifaki corridor to prevent a recurrence of such brazen criminality.
Criminology and educational security analysts suggest that off-campus hostels have become “soft targets” due to poor perimeter fencing, inadequate lighting, and the absence of professional security personnel. Experts argue that university managements must collaborate more closely with local landlords and security agencies to create a “safe zone” certification for approved off-campus residences. They suggest that the use of community-based intelligence and the installation of solar-powered streetlights could significantly deter nighttime criminal activities. Analysts maintain that the arrest of these two suspects is a positive step, but the larger “masterminds” behind the syndicate must be brought to justice to permanently break the cycle of hostel robberies in the state.
The broader implications of these arrests point toward a renewed commitment by the Ekiti State Police to restoring order and safety within the academic community. By securing these initial arrests, the command is sending a signal to other criminal elements that the state will not become a sanctuary for those who target the educational future of the nation. The state government has also promised to assist the university in bolstering its internal security apparatus and improving the overall infrastructure in the areas surrounding the campus. As the investigation continues to track the remaining members of the 30-man gang, the focus remains on the need for students to stay vigilant and for the police to maintain a visible and reassuring presence in the affected areas.
