By Emmanuel Awari, Jalingo
The Provost of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Dr. (Mrs.) Dorcas S. Dugule, has cleared the air on the recent students’ protest in the college.
The Provost, represented by the Deputy Provost, Mr. Khikanda Agyo Yavini, said the lady was raped outside the hostel late at night.
“The victim was walking late at night and was attacked and raped,” he said.
He said all efforts by the Provost, some heads of security agencies, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tertiary Institutions, and the leadership of NANS to calm the situation proved abortive, but consultations were ongoing to calm the situation.
He expressed confidence in the leadership of the Provost, adding that she was capable of handling the college and the situation.
“The Provost is capable of handling the situation. She is trying her best. I am learning under her,” he said.
Mr. Yavini said management was collaborating with security agencies to address the situation.
“The management is on top of the matter and is working to prevent further occurrence. We are appealing to students to remain calm and allow security agencies to carry out their investigations,” he said.
He said the students were demanding security in their temporary hostels, pending completion of the permanent site and their movement to it.
“Police have agreed to deploy their men to the hostels.”
Addressing the students, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Didango Shehu, said the command had received a report of the invasion in which suspected hoodlums attacked a female hostel located outside the main campus of the institution and dispossessed students of their belongings.
He said the police were aware that one of the female students was allegedly raped during the attack, adding that investigation had commenced to arrest the perpetrators.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police had directed the immediate deployment of more patrol teams to the affected community and other student-dominated areas to forestall further occurrences.
He assured students and the general public that the police would not relent in their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property in the state.
Tension reportedly gripped students of Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences as they staged a protest over renewed concerns about their safety within the institution’s residential facilities.
The protest followed reports that an 18-year-old girl was raped at about 8:00 p.m. by some suspected hoodlums while returning from reading in preparation for her examination.
She was allegedly attacked, sexually assaulted, beaten and dispossessed of her belongings.
The latest development reportedly occurred barely one week after armed men allegedly invaded a hostel with machetes, injured students and carted away more than 20 phones belonging to students.
The students alleged that a fresh attack occurred at the Sambisa Forest Hostel area, where private hostels are located outside the main campus, and a female student was allegedly assaulted, beaten and robbed during the invasion.
Some of the students interviewed said:
“We are demanding urgent action from the College Provost, the Taraba State Government and security agencies to secure hostels and ensure justice.”
“Security concerns around the college area have been long-standing, and we are calling for increased patrols and the commissioning of on-campus hostels.”
“We call on the Taraba State Government, the Ministry of Health and security agencies to investigate and protect students immediately.”
The latest allegations of assault were yet to be officially confirmed by the police as of press time.
The sequence of incidents has intensified calls from students and other stakeholders for immediate action to strengthen security around the college and its hostels.
Students are reportedly demanding improved surveillance, adequate security personnel, and effective measures to prevent further attacks on residents of the facility.
The incidents are expected to come under investigation by the relevant authorities, with stakeholders urging prompt action to protect students and restore a sense of security within the institution.
The rate of attacks on students in educational institutions is becoming increasingly alarming.
According to the students, the situation has reportedly reached a disturbing level, with the latest incident involving the alleged rape of a final-year student. Students also allege that attackers forced some victims to disclose their passwords.
Students living off campus at Taraba State University have reportedly faced similar attacks, with some incidents involving dangerous weapons such as knives and machetes.
A similar pattern has also been reported among off-campus students of Taraba State Polytechnic and the Taraba State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology.