Tragedy in Ogbomosho: Female student killed, three abducted in late-night hostel raid
Panic has gripped the student community in Ogbomosho, Oyo state following a violent midnight raid on a private hostel on Friday, which left one student dead and three others missing.
Panic has gripped the student community in Ogbomosho, Oyo state following a violent midnight raid on a private hostel on Friday, which left one student dead and three others missing.
The deceased, identified as Juliet Daniel, was reportedly shot dead by the suspected armed intruders during the operation which took place at approximately 11: pm on March 3, 2023.
According to an eyewitness account, the gunmen stormed the residential building, shooting sporadically to scare off neighbors before gaining entry into the rooms.
While the motive of the gunmen remained unclear, the attackers targeted four specific occupants.
The victims whisked away in the night have been identified as Abdul Raheem, Sola Akintoye, and Bola Rasaq.
Fear gripped the area on Saturday morning as students gathered in small groups, discussing the brazen nature of the attack in a town that has recently seen as spake in security concern.
A room mate to the deceased, Aderonke Adelusi said the casualty figure could have been higher if not for her absence, at home that day, saying she escaped the attack by sheer providence.
She said: "I wasn't at home whe the incident happened, i had stayed back elsewhere for school engagement. Coming back to see blood and realise my roommate is gone and others missing is something i can not process."
Another neighbor of the victim, (name withheld) said: "In the night of March 3rd, 2023, the hostel was calm in the way it usually was at that hour. By 11 p.m., most students had settled in for the night. Some were reading, some were having quiet conversations, while others had already gone to bed after a long day. It was an ordinary night, or so it seemed.
"Inside one of the rooms, Juliet Daniel was was in the room, while Aderonke Adelusi went out on that very night . There was no sign of danger and nothing to suggest that anything unusual was about to happen.
"Moments later, the situation changed suddenly.
"Unidentified men gained access to the hostel, causing immediate confusion and fear among the students. The quiet atmosphere was broken by noise and distress as people tried to understand what was going on. Panic spread quickly through the building.
"During the incident, Juliet Daniel was attacked and sadly lost her life. The attack happened within a short time, leaving little chance for intervention.
"At the same time, three other students, Abdul Raheem, Sola Akintoye, and Bola Razak, were forcibly taken from the hostel. Their sudden disappearance added to the shock and fear experienced by others in the building.
"By the time the intruders left, the hostel had been thrown into deep distress. Students gathered in groups, some in tears, others visibly shaken by what had taken place. What was once a place of comfort and rest had become a scene of tragedy, Adelusi Aderonke is nowhere to be found till this moment.
"Since the incident, investigations have been ongoing to identify those responsible for the killing and the kidnapping. Authorities continue to work towards ensuring justice is served and the victims are accounted for.
"The events of that night remain a painful memory for those who experienced it, as the search for answers and closure continues.
Oyo Police Command said its has launched manhunt for perpetrator of the act through deployment of tactical team to the Ogbomosho axis to tracked the kidnappers and ensure release of those abducted.
"Our men are current on the trail of the suspects, body of the deceased has been deposited at the mogue, and we are working round the clock to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.
"We urged the public to remain calm and vigilant."
As of the time of filling this report, the kidnappers have not made any contact with the family of the victims to demand ransom.
