Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Suspected armed robbers stormed multiple student residences near Taraba State University in Jalingo early Monday morning, stealing phones, laptops, power banks, and other valuables while forcing occupants to flee into nearby bushes for safety. The attacks occurred between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Monday, September 21, 2026, in the ATC area of the Taraba State capital, targeting compounds including Dior Compound, Strawers Villa, Mumbai Compound, and 3 Brothers Villa. A university community source, Abel Muda, said several other residences along the Alaba to Agric Gate axis were also hit during the operation. Students who spoke with reporters said the assailants broke doors and windows to gain entry, moving systematically from one building to another. The sheer number of attackers prompted some students to escape into surrounding bush areas, leaving behind their belongings and their sense of security.
The incident follows a similar raid days earlier on hostels belonging to the School of Nursing and Midwifery in Jalingo. In that attack, suspected hoodlums invaded an off-campus female hostel, and during the early-morning invasion, a female student was assaulted and had one of her fingers severed. Armed assailants had also raided another hostel the previous week, stealing electronics and assaulting residents. The Nursing students staged a peaceful demonstration on Monday, demanding that authorities address what they described as repeated security breaches around their hostel areas. The protest came days after officials of the Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education visited the college over a previous robbery involving students' hostels. The ministry had reported that armed men invaded the hostels, stole mobile phones, and assaulted some students.
For the students of Taraba State University, the attacks have become a recurring nightmare. Over the past few weeks, students living in the ATC area have faced a series of armed robbery attacks, resulting in injuries and the theft of valuable belongings. The pattern has repeated itself with a frequency that has left students feeling abandoned and vulnerable. In 2023, a female student, Adamu Mohammed Alingora, lamented that they were attacked in their apartment by armed robbers. Students at the time made an urgent appeal to the Taraba State Government and university management to intervene, warning that the area had become a haven for criminals. Three years later, the situation remains unchanged. The same fears, the same demands, the same lack of response.
No injuries had been confirmed as of the time of filing this report, though victims described significant material losses and psychological distress. Affected students have called on the university management, ATC community leaders, the Taraba State Police Command, and other security agencies to urgently strengthen night patrols and security around student housing. They also urged authorities to investigate the attacks and take steps to prevent further incidents. Community leaders and student representatives say sustained security presence, improved lighting, and coordinated patrols are needed to deter further incidents. The repeated incursions underscore growing safety fears among the student population in Jalingo, where off-campus housing often lacks adequate security infrastructure. Most of the residences are located in unplanned communities with poor road access, limited street lighting, and no perimeter fencing. Criminals exploit these conditions, using the cover of darkness to strike and the surrounding bushes to escape.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the police nor university authorities had issued an official statement confirming the attacks or outlining response measures. The absence of a coordinated security response has deepened frustration among students who feel their safety is not being taken seriously. The Taraba State Police Command has previously arrested suspects in connection with robberies targeting students. In one case, four men were arrested for allegedly robbing and terrorising students of the university and surrounding communities. But arrests alone have not stemmed the tide of violence. The demand for a permanent security solution has grown louder with each passing attack.
The raids on TSU students' residences are part of a broader pattern of insecurity that has plagued Jalingo in recent months. The city, like many others across Nigeria, has seen a rise in armed robbery, kidnapping, and other violent crimes. Students, who often live in off-campus accommodation due to limited hostel facilities, are particularly vulnerable. They are perceived as easy targets, carrying laptops and phones that can be sold quickly on the black market. The criminals who target them operate with a level of impunity that suggests they believe they will not be caught. The students who survived Monday's raids are left to count their losses, replace stolen devices, and wonder when the next attack will come. Authorities are expected to address the situation in the coming days as pressure mounts for a visible and effective response. For now, the students of Taraba State University are left to rely on each other, their community leaders, and the faint hope that someone in power will finally take their safety seriously.
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