By, Funmilayo Bayo
What was meant to be a calm and lovely start to Valentine’s Day turned into a night of terror for the residents of Nelson Mandela Hostel at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ekenwan Campus.
In the early hours of Saturday, 14 February, an unidentified male intruder gained unauthorised access to the female lodge of the hostel, causing early-morning panic and leaving students frightened.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident unfolded between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. The intruder, who was described as dark-skinned and allegedly carrying a small bag and a flashlight, was seen moving erratically through the hostel corridors.
“He was acting strangely… not normal,” said one student who wished to remain anonymous.
The intruder’s actions became increasingly suspicious as he moved through Rooms 16 to 20, reportedly locking some doors from the outside before entering Room 15 and trapping the occupants. It was reported that after entering Room 15, he slapped a female student to wake her up. The assaulted student screamed immediately, alerting the quiet hostel and causing panic and confusion among residents.
Male residents who were awake at the time of the incident rushed out of their rooms, aiming to apprehend the intruder. Eyewitnesses stated that the suspect appeared to be carrying what looked like a fake cutlass while fleeing from the residents. Despite the swift response of the hostelites, the suspect managed to flee, leaving the hostel in chaos.
Hostel authorities are yet to release an official statement concerning the incident; however, sources confirmed that investigations are currently ongoing. Thankfully, no serious injuries have been recorded.
The hostelites have expressed deep concern about insecurity on campus, calling on the university authorities to take urgent measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.