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. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: April 25, 2026

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):Olabisi Onabanjo University

Region & Country:Western Africa | Nigeria

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On April 25, 2026, unidentified gunmen attacked students on the campus of Olabisi Onabanjo University.

After midnight, twelve gunmen forced their way into student hostels. Stealing phones, jewelry, and other valuables, they shot sporadically and injured students with machetes. Police were quickly deployed but the perpetrators were not apprehended.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violent and destructive attacks on campus. Students and members of the public must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. State authorities should take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of scholars, students, and staff, including by investigating and holding perpetrators of such acts responsible, in line with international human rights standards. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, such actions undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://guardian.ng/news/gunmen-attacks-oou-ibogun-campus-injures-students-loots-property-including-vehicle/
https://punchng.com/gunmen-attack-ogun-varsity-students/