SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.

Date of Incident: October 28, 2022

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):University of Ibadan

Region & Country:Western Africa | Nigeria

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On October 28, 2022, unidentified armed assailants broke into the staff quarters at the University of Ibadan (UI) and killed Vincent Odinko, an employee of the National Examinations Council (NECO). 

Odinko was working in his apartment when the attackers broke in and shot him. They also stole laptops and mobile phones from the residence.

On November 5, it was reported that police opened an investigation into the killing. The motive for the attack is unknown.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the robbery and killing of a higher education staff member on a university campus.  SAR offers condolences to the family and colleagues of the deceased staff member. State authorities have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of university staff, faculty, and students, including by investigating and holding perpetrators accountable. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, such incidents undermine academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and democratic society generally.

Sources:

*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)

Daily Independent (Nigeria); Nigeria Punch

https://www.legit.ng/nigeria/1501951-just-huge-tragedy-robbers-invade-university-ibadan-kill-top-neco-official/

https://punchng.com/police-probe-killing-of-neco-official-inside-ui/ 

https://thenationonlineng.net/robbers-invade-ui-kill-neco-official/