VAM News Update

A yet to be identified man on Sunday invaded the Moremi hall, a female hotel of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and attempted to rape a female student.

It was learnt that the incident occurred on Sunday morning around 3:45am.

The victim, identified as Blessing while narrating the incident said the man wore a black cap, holding a pair of scissors and demanded nothing from her except to satisfy his sexual desires.

She said, “I cannot recognise his face because he was on a facemask, putting on a black cap and wielding scissors at me. He instructed me not to shout.

“I asked him if he wanted anything, my laptop and my phone were on the table but he kept on groping me. I don’t know how I managed to drag the scissors with him and started shouting.”

The victim’s roommate, who craved anonymity while narrating her part, said that she left the room to read while the victim was praying.

She added, “She must have slept off unconsciously while praying and forgot to lock the door.”

Reports indicate that multiple reports have surfaced of men entering rooms in the hall at night, with one instance occurring in Block G in the previous week and another in Block E just a day before the incident with the victim.

Reaction From Female Students’ Leadership

While speaking, the Chairperson of Moremi Hall, Ewaoluwa Alawode, said for every incident, the hall warden and porters became aware when they raised an alarm which is always between 02:00 am to 05:00 am.

According to her, the hall warden and porters have been on top of it.

Speaking further, she said in response to the previous incidences, ‘the porters had heightened their vigilance, the Division of Student Affairs was also making efforts towards increased security measures, and the CSO of the school had even queried some of the vigilante men over their negligence’.

According to her, she does not know the causes of the occurrences as one can not know the motivating factor in the mind of an evildoer.

She, however, thinks certain environmental factors have contributed to it, as the fencing around the hall is very low, most especially around the architecture department.

OAU Management Reacts

While reacting, Professor J.A Odedire, the Dean, Division of Student Affairs, said the recent security breach in the Hall Of Residence has been brought to their notice.

He implored the residents of the hall to uphold the security consciousness that OAU students are known for.

He also stated that the University management is making deliberate efforts to know the causes of the incidents and also provide measures to stall future occurrences.

He enjoined students in the hall of residence to remain calm and continue to go about their daily activities with no fear.