Nursing students protest rape, stealing by hoodlums in hostel attack

Hundreds of students of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, took to the streets on Monday after suspected hoodlums broke into an off-campus female hostel, allegedly raped a student and stole phones and other valuables.

The attackers reportedly invaded the hostel in the early hours of Monday, assaulting students and leaving one female student with injuries, including a severed finger.

The victim was later taken to GSCN Hospital in the Mile 6 area of Jalingo for medical treatment, according to sources familiar with the incident.

A students’ union official, who requested anonymity because of concerns about victimisation, said the attack was the second reported invasion of students’ accommodation within two weeks.

He said students had suffered another robbery at their hostels the previous week, during which phones and other personal belongings were taken.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

The latest incident triggered a protest at the college gate, with students demanding immediate action from the Taraba State Government and security agencies to prevent further attacks.

The students accused the authorities of failing to act on earlier complaints despite assurances that security would be strengthened.

According to the students’ union official, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education had visited the institution after the previous attack and promised improved security around the hostels.

“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.

The students also questioned why they were still being housed outside the college premises despite the reported completion of hostel facilities within the institution.

The official said the college had seven hostels — one for male students and six for female students — but students were still being accommodated in locations outside the school premises where security was inadequate.

“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 attack follows an earlier robbery incident that prompted the Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education to inspect the college’s student accommodation.

In its report, the ministry said armed men had invaded the hostels, dispossessed students of their mobile phones and assaulted some of them.

It said 33 phones were reported stolen during the incident, while some students sustained injuries. Three phones and a cutlass were recovered at the scene, according to the ministry.

Following the inspection, the ministry recommended stronger security around the hostels, a more intensive investigation into the attacks 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 the institution was addressing the latest incident but declined to provide details.

“I am on top of the issue. I will not speak; please give me time,” she said.