EducationNewsNigeriaFear of Kidnapping Sparks Mass Exodus of Students from Kogi Varsity  Hostels

Fear of kidnapping has led to a mass exodus of students from hostels at the Federal University Lokoja, FULOKO.

The institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, raised the alarm during a recent visit by the House Committee on University Education.

Professor Akinwumi disclosed that the two university hostels, with a combined capacity of 500 students, are practically empty.

He attributed the low occupancy rate to a May 2024 kidnapping incident involving students from the university, which tragically resulted in the deaths of two victims.

The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the security vulnerabilities due to the lack of a perimeter fence around the university. This, he said, has made the institution a soft target for criminals.

The security concerns are so significant that the university management has stopped allocating hostel rooms, prioritising student safety over full occupancy.

The House Committee on University Education is expected to address the challenges faced by FULOKO.

“These are serious challenges given the university’s unique location. We are going to do our best to assist it in overcoming the infrastructure challenge. With regard to security. We will take it up with relevant agencies and committees to really come to the aid of the university,” Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, Abubakar Fulata, stated in a statement on Wednesday.

“The school management, teaching and non-teaching staff as well as students are perpetually in fear of bandits and kidnappers. They hardly stay beyond 6 p.m. on campus,” he added.