Scores of female students raped, many injured as gunmen raid private hostels of Fed. University, Lafia
A wave of violent attacks by armed men has rocked the Federal University of Lafia in Nasarawa State, leaving dozens of students traumatised and injured.
According to sources within the university community, over 30 female students were allegedly raped during a large-scale attack on July 26, 2025, while several students who resisted were reportedly brutalised with machetes.
The horrifying incident is part of a disturbing trend of rising insecurity in the area, which has seen students in off-campus hostels in communities such as Akunza, Gandu, and Burkan Kwato fall victim to repeated raids by armed criminal gangs. These areas, known for their dense and informal settlements, have long been flagged as hideouts for criminal elements.
Students and concerned staff, who spoke under the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, revealed that the latest attack was carried out by a coordinated group of armed men in a convoy of vehicles.
The attackers stormed the student communities at night, unleashing terror, inflicting injuries, and sexually assaulting numerous female students.
“It was like a nightmare. They moved from one compound to another, breaking into rooms, dragging out students. The girls were assaulted, and the boys who tried to defend themselves were badly injured,” one student recounted.
The Federal University of Lafia, established in 2011, has faced a growing population of students without adequate on-campus accommodation, forcing many to live in nearby slums with minimal security. Although the university management has made efforts in the past to address the insecurity, sources disclosed the measures have yielded limited results.
Allegations have also emerged suggesting that some local residents in the host communities may be complicit in shielding criminal elements, making it difficult for law enforcement to act effectively.
A staff member noted, “Without cooperation from the local communities, no amount of university security can stop these attacks.”
What has further compounded the outrage is the lack of official media attention and minimal public response from authorities.
Attempts to reach the Nasarawa State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Ramhan Nansel, were unsuccessful as he was reportedly in a meeting and had not responded to messages at the time of this report.
The attacks have drawn condemnation from members of the university community, who are calling for urgent intervention from state and federal security agencies. Many are demanding a full-scale investigation, improved protection for students, and justice for the victims of what they describe as a grievous violation of human rights.
