TARABA NURSING STUDENTS PROTEST OVER HOSTEL ATTACK, RAPE CLAIM

Students of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, staged a protest on Monday following a reported attack on one of the female hostels located outside the institution’s premises.

The incident reportedly involved the rape of a female student, whose identity was withheld, as well as the theft of mobile phones and other valuables belonging to students.

According to a report by Daily Trust, the attack occurred in the early hours of Monday when some suspected hoodlums reportedly invaded one of the female hostels.

The victim was allegedly raped during the attack and reportedly had one of her fingers cut off. She was subsequently taken to a private hospital in the Mile 6 area of Jalingo for medical treatment.

An unnamed student union official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter, said the incident was the second attack on the students’ hostels within two weeks.

He said the students had raised concerns following the first attack and that the Commissioner for Tertiary Education had visited the college and promised that security measures would be strengthened.

According to him, the students were yet to see adequate security improvements despite the earlier assurance.

The student union official said the institution has seven hostels, comprising one for male students and six for female students, but noted that the hostels are located outside the college premises.

He expressed concern that the absence of adequate security around the hostels had continued to expose students to danger.

“We have seven hostels, one for males and six for females, but students are all located outside the premises of the college, and there is no adequate security, which exposes us, the students, to danger,” he said.

The Provost of the college, Dr Dorcas Dugule, acknowledged the report when contacted by Daily Trust and said she was taking steps to address the situation.

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

The spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, Victor Mshelizah, also confirmed that an attack had occurred at the hostels.

However, Mshelizah said he was not aware of the rape allegation at the time of filing the report because he had not seen the alleged victim.

“Yes, such incident happened in the early hours of today. Some hostels were burgled and phones were stolen. But I cannot confirm the rape allegation because I haven’t seen the victim,” he said.

The police spokesperson added that officers were heading to the school to investigate the incident and said further developments would be communicated.