Students residing at Shama Private Hostel near Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) have raised alarm over worsening insecurity following the collapse of the hostel’s fence and gates.
They said the incident has left them vulnerable to theft, intrusion, and lack of privacy, urging the landlords and caretakers to take urgent action.
Worried by the development, Abdullahi Rofiat Olajumoke, a 300-level Agriculture student, recounted how insecurity heightened after the fence collapsed.
“Hmmm, I’m short of words. I was affected too. One of our big cooking pots was stolen after the fence collapsed. We even considered holding the security men responsible, but people discouraged us. The insecurity has been high even before the fence fell. Properties keep getting stolen, and we’ve never seen the landlord. Whenever we have issues, we are referred to the caretaker, but nothing is done. Last year, rent was increased by ₦20,000; we don’t even know what will happen this year,” she said.
Another student, Bello Awaisu Abubakar, a 100-level Veterinary Medicine student, expressed frustration over the management’s silence.
“How will a student who is asked to pay huge hostel fees feel when the fence that secures him falls and nobody shows concern? Can we say the owner isn’t aware, or are his agents only tasked with collecting money from us? The situation is painful. From where the fence collapsed, outsiders can peep directly into women’s rooms whenever the curtains are blown by wind. The hostel has never been fully secured; unlike school hostels that use barbed wire, Shama has always been open to thieves. I was relieved when UDUS opened its bed-space portal, and I applied immediately. I’ll be glad to relocate to any school hostel,” he said.
Similarly, Yakubu Ahmad Sardauna, a 100-level Law student, described the condition as unsafe.
“Broken fences and collapsed gates make it easy for unauthorized individuals to enter the premises, posing a risk to residents’ safety and security,” he said.
Landlords aware, says caretaker
Speaking with VANGUARD PRESS, one of the hostel caretakers, Noah Abdullahi Ayinla (Hamfanoah), said efforts were underway to fix the collapsed fence.
“Probably before next semester they will fix it,” he stated briefly.
Efforts to reach the Students’ Union Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman, Nazir Yusuf Shehu, were unsuccessful as he had not responded to inquiries at the time of filing this report.
Private hostel matters not university’s responsibility, says management
Reacting to broader concerns about private hostels, the Deputy Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Shehu Yahaya Tsagem, clarified that such issues fall under the responsibility of landlords, not the university.
He also explained the reason behind the university’s recent circular advising students against signing new tenancy agreements in Benji hostels.
“Last year, landlords in Benji increased rent from ₦80,000 to ₦100,000. When we asked why they hijacked the price, they claimed it was to repair the light, install prepaid meters, and fix toilets. They also promised that after one year, they would reduce the price back to its original amount. But up till now, they have not repaired the light, neither have they fixed the toilets, and the rent has not been reduced,” he said.
The Deputy Dean therefore urged students not to sign any new contracts with Benji landlords until they fulfill their promises and carry out the necessary repairs.
As insecurity deepens, residents of Shama Hostel continue to hope their broken walls will rise again before the next semester begins.
