Protest rock Taraba Nursing College as hoodlums attack female hostel, rape student

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Hundreds of students of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, on Monday staged a peaceful protest 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 inflicted injuries on her, including cutting one of her fingers.

The attack reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday when hoodlums invaded the hostel, dispossessing students of mobile phones and other valuables.

Sources said the injured student was subsequently taken to GSCN Hospital in the Mile 6 area of Jalingo for medical treatment.

A students’ union official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said the latest incident was the second attack on students’ hostels within two weeks.

According to the official, hoodlums had raided some of the hostels the previous week, 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 students’ union official said the students had raised concerns with the college authorities after the first attack, prompting the Commissioner for Tertiary Education to visit the institution and promise improved 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 protest and demand urgent intervention from the Taraba State Government and security agencies.

They called for improved security around the hostels and measures to prevent further attacks on students.

The students also expressed concern over the continued accommodation of students in hostels located outside the college premises despite the completion of new hostel facilities within the institution.

The students’ union official said the college has seven hostels, comprising one for male students and six for females, but that students were still being accommodated outside the college 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 occurred days after the Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education visited the College of Nursing Sciences following a reported robbery attack at students’ hostels.

According to the ministry’s report, armed men had invaded the hostels, stolen mobile phones and assaulted some students.

The ministry said 33 phones were reportedly stolen during the incident, while some students sustained injuries. Three phones and a cutlass were reportedly recovered at the scene.

Following the assessment, the ministry recommended urgent security measures around the hostels, intensified 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 to address the security concerns associated with the current accommodation arrangements.

When contacted, the Provost of the college, Dr Dorcas Dugule, 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.