We're being raped, robbed, Fed Poly Ilaro students cry for help

Photo: Tribune

Mother of kidnapped female corps member cries to FG, NYSC

STUDENTS of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, in Ogun State, yesterday, urged the Nigeria Police Force and the Ogun State government to rescue them from what they described as 'incessant attacks' by gunmen suspected to be armed robbers.

The students, who live off  campus, said they are no longer safe due to the rate at which the robbers attack them at nights.

It was gathered that some female students have been raped by the armed robbers, who also make away with their phones, laptops, money and other valuables, including foodstuff.

One of the students, who spoke with Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said: “On Saturday night, these gunmen struck again, they broke into buildings to rob. They fired shots and broke the burglary proofs to gain entrance into buildings. 

"One of the students was hit by a bullet in the eye. They raped female students and made away with their valuables. We are crying out for help. We have been on this for over a week now.

"Nobody is doing anything about it. Some of our girls were raped, and houses were destroyed. We don't know what is happening. Nigerians should come to our aid.”

It was also gathered that a number of the students have fled the school environment for their various homes as there seems to be no help in sight.

It was learned that landlords in students-dominated areas in Ilaro met on April 12 to take some decisions on the security exigencies in the city.

"At the end of the meeting, it was resolved that all Community Development Associations, CDAs, in Ilaro must hire night guards and students must obtain tenancy forms.”

But the students said nothing has changed since the meeting with the landlords.

 We’re not aware of incidents —Institution

A planned protest by the students was reportedly stopped by the management of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, FPI.

However, in spite of the outcry and social media posts, the Public Relations Officer of the polytechnic, Sola Abiola, said he was not aware of the incidents.

 We’re working to stop attacks — Ogun govt

Contacted, Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Students' Matters, Azeez Adeyemi, confirmed the incident, saying, however, that he could not substantiate the claims of rape.

Adeyemi said there would be a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, in Ogun State, Mr Lanre Bankole, to find a lasting solution to the problem.

He said: “We are not leaving any stone unturned to put an end to the matter. We are on it already. NANS is also on it. We are equally meeting with the CP.  So, we are on top of the matter.”

Mother of kidnapped female corps member cries to FG, NYSC

*Says daughter, Faith Onoriode, still with abductors one month after

THE mother of a corps member, Miss Faith Onoriode, kidnapped on March 21 on the Abuja- Kaduna road around Regania community, has appealed to the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC and the Federal Government to help secure her release.

The daughter, Faith Onoriode, read Biology/Microbiology at the Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe, Oghara and was on her way to resume at the NYSC camp in Jigawa when she was abducted.

The call-up letter for the NYSC the family made available to the Vanguard among other information read: "Call up number: NYSC/DPO/2022/099882. Batch A, 2022. State of deployment, Jigawa."

The mother, Mrs Roseline Onoriode, said the incident was reported to the NYSC’s authorities in Jigawa State.

She said the kidnappers are demanding N40 million ransom when they contacted the family.

“She is a corps member in Batch A that was posted to NYSC Jigawa orientation camp. She boarded a vehicle from Sala’s Global Motors, Effunrun, Warri to Kano enroute Jigawa NYSC orientation camp. She was kidnapped along Abuja-Kaduna Road at Regania community some kilometres to Kaduna State on March 21, 2022. “

“The incident was reported at the NYSC headquarters, Abuja and also NYSC Jigawa and even reported at the state command police headquarters at Kaduna but nothing has been done for her release. The family tried to negotiate with the kidnappers, the ransom they are demanding is N40 million.

“She has been with them for over one month and two days. NYSC has not even done anything to secure the release of my daughter, not even a call from them. Please, I am begging the Federal Government to help secure the release of my daughter.

“I am a poor widow, please help me. Please, I am begging with the name of God for my daughter’s release and Nigerians please help me.”

Culled from Vanguard