Armed robbers stormed the female hostel of Ebonyi College of Health Science and Technology in Ngbo at 1:20 a.m. on June 8. Nine students were injured. None are missing. The provost confirmed the attack within hours.
The robbers demanded phones, cash, and ATM cards. They fled when security forces arrived. Police and homeland security responded to the distress call. The attackers escaped through unfenced access points. The college perimeter remains incomplete despite state funding. Provost Chetachi Usulor said additional resources are needed to finish the fence. She called the security breach a direct consequence of the exposed campus.
The injured students were not assaulted. They jumped from upper floors to escape. Some tried to hide their phones. Nine are still in hospital. Doctors are checking for spinal and waist injuries. Usulor said all students have been accounted for. She dismissed rumors of missing persons. The college is now reviewing security protocols with local authorities.
Investigators suspect insider involvement. Victims reported the robbers asked for a specific student. A woman was seen directing the attackers to rooms. Usulor said police are questioning security personnel on duty. The attackers spoke the local Ngbo dialect. This detail may help identify suspects. The college has no female security officers inside the hostel.
The attack reveals deeper institutional failures. Ebonyi State released fencing funds months ago. The project stalled due to budget shortfalls. The college sits on vast land with multiple entry points. Security forces cannot monitor every gap. Students Union President Ernest Nwobasi called for urgent government intervention. He wants the fence completed and more officers deployed.
Local vigilantes will join police in round-the-clock patrols. Homeland security personnel will also be stationed on campus. Usulor said the new measures should deter future attacks. She expressed confidence in the Ngbo-speaking operatives. They may recognize suspects from the dialect clues. The police have not released an official statement yet.
The incident highlights Nigeria’s broader campus security crisis. Many tertiary institutions lack perimeter fencing. Hostels often rely on private guards. Female students face higher risks. Security budgets are stretched thin. The Ebonyi attack shows how delayed infrastructure projects create vulnerabilities. The college had no alarm system or CCTV coverage.
Students are demanding accountability. They want the state government to audit the fencing funds. The college management must explain why the project stalled. The police must investigate the alleged insider links. The woman seen directing the robbers remains unidentified. The Ngbo dialect clue could break the case. Until then, students remain at risk.
