Fear and Neglect: Inside the Growing Insecurity at Moremi Estate Near OAU

edutvnigeria

06/11/25 • 7 Visninger • 0 Del • Udgivet i Andet

Could this be the very cover enabling the robberies that now haunt Moremi Estate?
That question echoed in my mind as I entered the once-bustling student community that has, in recent months, become a..

Moremi Estate, an off-campus residential area near Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), is fast gaining a dark reputation following a string of violent robberies targeting students. The latest incident occurred at Oreoluwa Hostel, where armed assailants stormed the building, injuring several occupants and carting away valuables.

It was this attack — one of many — that prompted my visit. I wanted to understand what was really happening in a community students now describe as “living in fear.”

Arriving at Energy Junction around 6 p.m., I was greeted by a scene that revealed part of the problem. The road leading into the estate was flanked by overgrown bushes. There were no street lights, no drainage system, and the road’s uneven surface bore scars of erosion. The silence was heavy — not peaceful, but uneasy.

As I ventured deeper, the neglect became clearer. I passed houses and even a small school — Hug and Cuddles Premium Montessori — hidden behind dense foliage. Yet despite the presence of life, the environment felt exposed and unsafe. There were no visible security operatives, no police patrols, and no vigilante presence, even after several reported attacks.

Some residents whispered about the recent robberies. Students I later spoke with expressed frustration — not just with the fear, but with being ignored. One student revealed that during the last incident, the local vigilante admitted he had no bullets in his gun. That chilling admission spoke volumes — not just of fear, but of a system that has failed.

Ironically, the estate doesn’t look like a danger zone. Its calm appearance hides a troubling truth: nothing has changed. No new security measures. No police intervention. No visible urgency. Just daily life continuing under the shadow of the next potential attack.

The situation exposes a deeper problem — the disconnect between government authorities and the people they are meant to protect. Despite repeated appeals and public outcry, little has been done to secure the area. The result is a picture of neglect and abandonment.

But the government is not solely to blame. The university administration must also take responsibility. If OAU had adequate on-campus accommodation, many students would not be forced to live in vulnerable areas like Moremi. The claim that these incidents happen “off campus” can no longer be an excuse for inaction. Students remain part of the university community — wherever they reside.

Authorities must act decisively. Landowners in Moremi Estate should be compelled to clear undeveloped plots that serve as hideouts for criminals. Proper gates and security checkpoints should be installed at entry points, and joint patrols involving the police and vigilante groups should be deployed immediately.

What I saw in Moremi was more than bushes and broken roads. I saw how insecurity thrives where institutions look away. And as I left the estate, one painful thought lingered:
How many more robberies will it take before someone finally acts?

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