By Ade Oyeyemi
Students of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, on Monday protested after suspected hoodlums allegedly invaded an off-campus female hostel, raped a student and injured her during the attack.
The attackers reportedly stormed the hostel in the early hours of Monday, dispossessing students of their mobile phones and other valuables.
The female student who was allegedly assaulted was subsequently taken to a private hospital in the Mile 6 area of Jalingo for medical attention.
A students’ union official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said the incident was the second attack on students’ hostels within two weeks.
He alleged that the attackers had invaded some of the hostels the previous week and stolen phones and other valuables belonging to students.
“Yesterday night, the hoodlums came in their numbers and attacked one of the female students’ hostels. They raped one of the students and also carted away phones belonging to the students and other valuables,” the official said.
He added that the attackers allegedly cut one of the victim’s fingers during the assault.
“They also cut one of the fingers of the student after raping her. She is now on admission at a private hospital located at Mile 6 area in Jalingo,” he added.
The students’ representative said the latest attack occurred despite complaints raised with the college authorities after the earlier incident.
He said the Commissioner for Tertiary Education had visited the institution following the first attack and assured the students that security measures would be strengthened.
“When the first attack happened last week, we complained to the school authorities and the Commissioner of Tertiary Education visited the college and promised that security measures would be put in place in all the hostels, but nothing was done,” he alleged.
Following the latest incident, the students gathered at the college gate to protest, demanding urgent intervention from the Taraba State Government and security agencies.
The protesters also expressed concern over the continued accommodation of students in hostels outside the college premises despite the completion of hostel facilities within the institution.
According to the students’ union official, the college has seven hostels, comprising one for male students and six for female students, but students are still being housed outside the institution.
“We have seven hostels, one for male and six for female, but students are all located outside the premises of the college and there is no adequate security, which exposed us, the students, to danger,” he said.
The latest incident came days after officials of the Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education visited the institution following a reported robbery at the students’ hostels.
The ministry had said armed men invaded the hostels, stole mobile phones and assaulted some students during the incident.
According to the ministry’s report, 33 phones were reportedly stolen, while some students sustained injuries. Three phones and a cutlass were recovered at the scene.
The ministry subsequently recommended urgent security measures around the hostels, intensified investigation and the relocation of students to safer accommodation.
It also called for the completion and commissioning of the college’s new hostel facilities.
The Provost of the college, Dr Dorcas Dugule, confirmed that she was handling the matter when contacted but declined to provide further details.
“I am on top of the issue. I will not speak; please give me time,” she said.
