The persistent wave of insecurity in Nasarawa State has taken a horrifying turn, following a brutal invasion by heavily armed bandits at the Federal University of Lafia. The incident, which occurred recently, has left deep scars of violence, particularly among female students, with reports indicating widespread sexual assault, physical injuries, and psychological trauma.
Multiple sources within the university, who spoke to Chronicles Reporters on the condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, revealed that for more than two weeks, students living off-campus have been under siege. These sources detailed a pattern of kidnappings, killings, and increasing sexual violence targeting the student population.
However, the most chilling attack happened on July 26, 2025, when the armed men launched a coordinated assault.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants arrived in a convoy and descended on student-dense communities such as Akunza, Gandu, and Burkan Kwato — all of which serve as alternative residential areas for students due to limited accommodation within the school premises.
These off-campus areas, known for their slum-like conditions and lack of security, became the site of what many are calling one of the most disturbing attacks on an academic institution in Nigeria in recent times.
“On July 26, no fewer than 30 female students were raped. The bandits moved in large convoys and raided the student communities with brutal force,” one witness disclosed.
“This operation mirrored past tragic events like the Boko Haram abductions in Chibok and Dapchi. The Lafia attack is yet another grim reminder of how deeply insecurity has eroded the Nigerian State, reducing lives to statistics in the face of unchecked violence by terrorists and criminal groups.”
The witness further revealed that male students who attempted to defend themselves or resist the assailants were savagely attacked. “Several of them were butchered. The aftermath was heartbreaking — a community torn apart, drenched in blood and mourning.”
Despite the scale of the assault, those within the university community have expressed anger and dismay at what they described as a deafening silence from the media and political leaders.
“It’s alarming that such a large-scale incident has received no significant attention from the media. It feels like a deliberate suppression of the truth by those in power,” one student leader said.
The Federal University of Lafia, established in 2011, has seen steady growth in student enrollment, yet housing infrastructure has failed to keep up. As a result, thousands of students reside in poorly secured, crime-prone areas that are now proving to be hotbeds for bandit activities.
This latest attack has sparked outrage and renewed calls for immediate government intervention, better security presence, and justice for the victims. Some are referring to the incident as a “mini-Chibok” scenario playing out in Nasarawa.
In response to the claims, the Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel, refuted reports that a mass rape occurred. Speaking to Chronicles Reporters, he confirmed that there was an incident, but downplayed its severity.
He stated, “What happened was a robbery incident on July 31, where a lady was dispossessed of her bag and a male student sustained a machete injury while trying to flee. There’s no truth to the story about 30 students being raped.”
Nansel dismissed the rape allegations as exaggerated, claiming it was implausible for such a crime to occur unnoticed in Lafia, especially with the police and university authorities present in the area.
“We’re in Lafia. How could 30 students be raped and nothing was done? Not by the police, not even by the school authorities? That report is sensational and misleading,” he said.
Regardless, the community remains shaken, and students continue to demand a thorough investigation and protection from further attacks.
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