Students of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, protested on Monday after suspected hoodlums attacked a female hostel outside the institution, allegedly raping a student and inflicting injuries on her.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday when the attackers stormed the hostel and stole mobile phones and other valuables belonging to the students.
Sources said one of the female students was sexually assaulted during the attack and suffered injuries, including the loss of a finger.
The victim was reportedly taken to GSCN Hospital in the Mile 6 area of Jalingo, where she is receiving medical attention.
A students’ union official, who spoke anonymously because of concerns about victimisation, said the attack was the second reported assault on students’ accommodation within two weeks.
According to the official, students had earlier been attacked in another hostel, with phones and other valuables reportedly stolen.
He said the students informed the college authorities after the first incident, prompting a visit by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, who promised to strengthen security around the hostels.
However, the official alleged that adequate measures were not implemented before Monday’s attack.
The latest incident prompted the students to converge at the college gate, where they called on the Taraba State Government and security agencies to urgently intervene and protect them from further attacks.
The students also expressed concern over the continued accommodation of students in hostels located outside the college premises despite the reported completion of hostel facilities within the institution.
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The students’ union official said the college has seven hostels comprising one for male students and six for females, but alleged that students were still being housed outside the institution without adequate security.
The protest came days after officials of the Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education visited the college over a previous robbery involving students’ hostels.
The ministry had reported that armed men invaded the hostels, stole mobile phones and assaulted some students.
It said 33 phones were allegedly stolen during the incident, while some students sustained injuries. Three phones and a cutlass were reportedly recovered at the scene.
Following the earlier attack, the ministry recommended stronger security around the hostels, intensified investigation into the incident 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 provide further details immediately.
“I am on top of the issue. I will not speak; please give me time,” she said.
