Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A wave of outrage has swept through the Malete community after officials of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) sealed several private hostels and locked the doors, evicting hundreds of students over an unresolved tax dispute with the property owners. The action, which took place on Monday, September 7, 2026, left over 200 students of the Kwara State University (KWASU) stranded and homeless, sparking protests and widespread condemnation from student leaders and civil society groups.
According to reports, the revenue officials descended on the hostels in the early hours of the morning, ordering students to vacate the premises before placing padlocks on the gates. The affected students, many of whom had paid their rent in full for the semester, were given only a few minutes to pack their belongings before being turned out. Some students were seen carrying their mattresses, books, and clothing as they scrambled to find alternative accommodation in the community.
The eviction, which sources said was triggered by a dispute over unpaid taxes by the hostel owners, has raised serious questions about the methods used by revenue officials and their disregard for the welfare of innocent students caught in the crossfire. One student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she and her roommates were woken up by the sound of heavy banging on the gate. "They didn't give us time. They just said the hostel has been sealed for tax default, and everyone must leave immediately," she said. "We have nowhere to go. Some of us are sleeping at the school mosque and under bridges."
The Kwara State Government has not officially commented on the evictions, but the action has drawn sharp criticism from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). In a statement, the student body condemned what it described as a "callous and insensitive" approach to revenue collection, accusing the government of treating students like pawns in a political game. "These students have nothing to do with the tax obligations of the hostel owners. Why should they bear the brunt of a dispute they are not party to?" the statement read. "This is not governance; it is tyranny."
The eviction comes barely a month after the Kwara State House of Assembly called for an investigation into the rising cost of hostel accommodation in Malete, citing concerns over arbitrary rent increases. The assembly had also expressed worry over the impact of high rents on students, many of whom are already struggling with the economic hardship in the country.
This is not the first time hostels in Malete have been shut down. In 2024, stakeholders agreed to suspend session-based tenancy agreements after students were routinely evicted at the end of each academic session. But the latest action, driven by a tax dispute, suggests that the plight of students in Malete is far from over.
For the affected students, many of whom are now left to fend for themselves, the question remains: what will it take for the government to understand that the welfare of its citizens, especially students, must not be sacrificed on the altar of revenue generation? As the sun set on Monday, some of the displaced students were still seen wandering the streets of Malete, hoping for a temporary shelter, while others had no choice but to return to their distant homes, uncertain of when they would return to continue their education. The Kwara State Government has yet to issue a statement, but the images of students sleeping on the streets have already become a symbol of a government that appears to have lost touch with the very people it is meant to serve.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments