A 200-level student of the Department of History and International Studies, Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University, Joseph Otabor, has died from injuries he reportedly sustained during an armed robbery attack in the Iba area of Lagos.
The incident reportedly occurred on May 29, 2026, at Peace Estate in the First Gate area of the LASU community.
A source within the university, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Otabor was shot in the stomach during the attack.
According to the source, the area where the incident occurred has become notorious for criminal activities targeting students.
“The place is notorious for criminal activities. They rob students. The boy is not even the first person that such a thing would happen to in that area,” the source said.
The source added that the attack occurred at night when the assailants allegedly attempted to seize the student’s phone.
Another student, identified only as Ike, told our correspondent that Otabor was attacked alongside his friends by suspected armed robbers.
“The deceased and his friends were attacked by some people believed to be armed robbers. He was rushed to the hospital for medical intervention but died on Tuesday,” Ike said.
A student leader who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the incident said the attack occurred at about 9 p.m. at the Estate Gate Bus Stop.
“The incident occurred at 9pm on the 29th of May at Estate Gate Bus Stop. About four of them, including Tife (Otabor), were at the bus stop waiting to board a bus. Suddenly, a bike parked and a guy came down with a gun and attacked them,” he said.
The source explained that while others managed to escape, the deceased was caught.
“The other three friends of Tife were able to run, while Tife was held captive and was forced to drop his phone.
“They forced him to unlock his phone to make transfers, and he refused,” he added.
According to him, the victim was shot when he resisted the robbers’ demand.
He was shot, and the armed robbers fled the scene. Tife was immediately rushed to Igando General Hospital before he was transferred to LASUTH for further treatment in the ICU since Friday night. Tife had been undergoing surgeries and intensive treatment since that night, but unfortunately, he gave up this night,” the source said.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Acting Coordinator of the Centre for Information and Public Relations, Olaniyi Jeariogbe, confirmed the incident, stating that Otabor and his friends were attacked off campus.
“The management of Lagos State University received with profound sadness the news of the death of one of its students, OTABOR Boluwatife Joseph (Matric No. 240341269) of the Department of History and International Studies, Faculty of Arts, following injuries sustained during an armed robbery attack in the Iba area of Lagos,” the statement read.
The university said it immediately responded after receiving reports of the incident. According to the statement, the Acting Dean of Students’ Affairs, Abiodun Fatai-Abatan, provided support, briefed the Vice-Chancellor, and maintained contact with medical personnel involved in the student’s treatment while monitoring developments throughout his hospitalisation.
“The university is actively cooperating with security agencies to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the attack are thoroughly investigated and those responsible are brought to justice,” the statement added.
PUNCH Metro reports that this is not the first time a LASU student has lost his life in a robbery incident.
In 2021, a student activist at the university, Yusuf Nurudeen, popularly known as Omomeewa, was shot dead in similar circumstances.
According to a report by Campusinfo, a news platform that reports campus activities, the student activist was killed near the LASU gate, barely six months after he got married.
Credit: Punchng
