By Ado Oyeyemi
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 school premises.
The attackers allegedly raped a female student during the incident and inflicted injuries on her, including cutting off one of her fingers.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday when the hoodlums stormed the hostel, dispossessing students of their mobile phones and other valuables.
The injured student was subsequently taken to GSCN Hospital in the Mile 6 area of Jalingo for medical attention, sources said.
A students’ union official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident was the second attack on students’ hostels within two weeks.
According to the official, another hostel was attacked the previous week, during which students reportedly lost phones and other valuables.
He said, “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 in the Mile 6 area of Jalingo.”
The official said students had alerted the school authorities after the first attack, prompting a visit by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, who reportedly promised to strengthen security around the hostels.
He, however, alleged that despite the assurance, adequate security measures had not been implemented, leading to Monday’s fresh attack.
The development prompted the students to protest at the college gate, calling on the Taraba State Government and security agencies to urgently intervene and protect them from further attacks.
The protesters also questioned why students were still being accommodated in hostels outside the college premises despite the completion of hostel facilities within the institution.
The students’ union official said the college had seven hostels, comprising one for male students and six for females, but alleged that students were still being housed outside the school premises where security was inadequate.
The latest attack occurred days after the Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education visited the college following an earlier robbery at students’ hostels.
The ministry had reported that armed men invaded the hostels, stole mobile phones and assaulted some students.
It said 33 phones were stolen, while some students sustained injuries, adding that three phones and a cutlass were recovered from the scene.
Following the earlier incident, the ministry 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 comment further.
“I am on top of the issue. I will not speak; please give me time,” she said.
