The Toll of Insecurity on Campus: Impacts, Students’ Narratives, and Potential Dangers

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Sakeenah Kareem

Recently, headlines echo with tales of violence and unrest sweeping across the nation. Kidnappings and robberies paint a grim picture of a country grappling with security challenges. This national unease has now permeated the daily lives of University of Ibadan students.

A palpable sense of unease has descended upon the University of Ibadan, eroding students’ confidence in the safety of their academic haven. Students have become less confident as they fear falling prey to insecurity. The recent robbery incident at Queen Elizabeth Hall II from the previous week intensifies concerns regarding the overall security of the campus.

Moreover, this incident acts as a stark reminder of the vulnerability even within the supposed sanctuary that the university should be. Instances of break-ins, coupled with perceived shortcomings in the security response, have shaken students’ confidence, prompting valid questions about the efficacy of campus security measures and the university’s dedication to the school community’s well-being.

In light of this recent robbery incident, residents of Queens Hall have shared their overarching views on campus security. Other students have also stepped forward, shedding light on their own experiences concerning the prevailing insecurity on campus.

Tolu Alabi**, a Queenite shared her experience and thoughts on the incident, “When we enter the hostel, the porters check our ID cards. Obviously, the thief didn’t come in through the hotel’s main entrance because there are other places that people can pass. When he was running away, he climbed a fence around D block and one of the security personnels caught him. Of course, we can’t compare the power of an old man to a young man. So, the guy was able to overpower him and escape”.

“The main issue with queens hall is the misplaced priority. The fences also need to be properly checked. In general, I feel that the security personnel are too old and are not qualified”, she added.


Another Queenite believed that the incident only affirmed her belief that “the school area is just as unsafe as the residences outside”.


When asked if there had been any security measures in place since the incident, she responded in the negative.


“It seems like the hall supervisors are trying to bury the issue especially since no attempt to address it has been made. The fact that students were the ones who had to run after the thief, even though the so-called “security officers” have their office beside the exact place the theft took place shows that they are incapable”, she buttressed annoyingly.


This incident has escalated into a pressing concern, prompting inquiries such as: What measures is the hall management taking in response? What statements do the executives/ student leaders, who are representatives of Queenites, offer on this matter? Should students continue living in fear that their lives might be at risk in an academic hostel, which should ideally be a secure place?

Addressing this matter, the Hall Chair of Queen Elizabeth II Hall, Ande Victory Dooshima, asserted that the management has pledged to enhance security measures in the hall.

“The porters were around that day. Even the Abefele men are always active around 12:00 am. The theft occurred at 6:00 am and everyone was alerted by 6:11am. The gate was opened around 5:30 am and a porter was there. We had two porters on duty that day, inspecting those coming into the hall. The incident is traumatizing. The management have sensitized students on being security conscious and the porters are now more focused on inspection.”

Though the Queen’s hall incident is news, issues that make students doubt the security level of the University environment have been ongoing.

Iwalola Atitebi, an AFASite, has had a couple of experiences with strangers in the school environment that made her feel quite unsafe and not trusting of the school’s security anymore.

“There was this day I was going for TDB and a stranger walked up to me at tec6h road. He wasn’t a student and he looked really strange. I felt unsafe while he talked to me, and I was curious as to why he was on campus at that time of the night, given that he isn’t a student”, she recounted her experience bitterly.

“I’m not satisfied with the security and I think things can be better. Many times, I’ve experienced strangers walking up to me to beg for money and other things. Sometimes these people go as far as following you around till you give them money. That doesn’t make me feel safe enough and I think measures should be put in place to curb such occurrences”, she further explained.


Rodiyah Khidr, a MBBS fresher, shared her fair share of feeling insecure and also expressed her dissatisfaction at the state of security. “I was once approached and briefly followed by a man. I’ve been stuck walking in the rain late at night and encountered a lot of men on the road to my hostel. I was passing through Zik then and I was catcalled by someone, and he tried to come at me because I didn’t respond ‘appropriately’.”


“I am not satisfied at all. I think there should be ACTUAL security officers and the University campus shouldn’t exactly be open and accessible to just anybody”, she added.


Asíwájú Babatimeyin said, “I haven’t had any out-of-normal experience so far, but I’m aware of experiences my friends have had”.

“Although, I am not speaking from personal experience, I doubt that I am satisfied. I’d say that there should be employment of more security personnel and they should pay more attention to details, including incorporation of student experiences to aid their actions”, he further added.

Furthermore, this matter necessitates swift action from all stakeholders, including the school management, to prevent potential chaos on campus and avert the emergence of distressing narratives.

Editor’s note: Due to request for anonymity from some sources, some names were changed in the report.

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