[TRENDING VIDEO] Taraba nursing students protest after hoodlums allegedly rape student in hostel
Hundreds of students of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, staged a peaceful protest on Monday following an overnight attack on one of the institution’s female hostels located outside the college premises.
The attackers allegedly raped a female student during the incident and injured her, including reportedly cutting one of her fingers.
The attack reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday when the hoodlums invaded the hostel and allegedly dispossessed students of their phones and other valuables.
Sources said the victim was later taken to GSCN Hospital in the Mile 6 area of Jalingo for treatment.
A students’ union official, who spoke on condition of anonymity over fears of victimisation, said the incident was the second attack on students’ hostels within two weeks.
According to the official, some hostels were raided the previous week, with the attackers allegedly stealing 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.”
“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 said.
The official said students had reported the earlier incident to the school authorities, following which the Commissioner for Tertiary Education visited the college and promised to strengthen security.
“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 said.
Following the latest incident, the students gathered at the college gate on Monday to demand urgent intervention from the Taraba State Government and security agencies to prevent further attacks.
They also expressed concern over the continued accommodation of students in hostels outside the college premises despite the completion of hostel facilities within the institution.
The students’ union official said the college has seven hostels — one for male students and six for females — but students were still being housed outside the premises.
“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 comes days after the Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education visited the College of Nursing Sciences following a reported robbery at students’ hostels.
The ministry said armed men had invaded the hostels, stolen mobile phones and assaulted students. 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 hostels.
The college’s Provost, Dr Dorcas Dugule, when contacted, confirmed that she was handling the matter but declined to comment immediately.
“I am on top of the issue. I will not speak; please give me time,” she said.