The students are studying under a joint Cape Verde and Timor-Leste government program.

David da Costa, a student, said he and his peers had been evicted after failing to pay their electricity and water bills due to delayed payment from Timor-Leste government.

Costa, speaking by telephone to the Independente on Wednesday, said when the group had been “locked out” of their accommodation they had been robbed at knife-point and had their wallets and mobile phones stolen by local thieves

 “Our life here is not safe,” Costa said.

Costa called on the Ministry of Education to assist the students.