Students of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo, have protested the alleged invasion of private student hostels by newly recruited Nigerian Army personnel, accusing the recruits of assaulting students, harassing female occupants and carting away valuables during the incident.
The alleged attack has heightened concerns over the safety of students living in privately owned hostels around tertiary institutions. Universities across Nigeria have continued to engage security agencies to improve the security of off-campus accommodation, which often falls outside direct institutional control.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday night when the recruits, said to be undergoing training at the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo, allegedly stormed several private hostels in the Oke-Baale area of the university community after earlier visiting entertainment centres within the area.
The recruits were alleged to have invaded about 20 student hostels, including Cristalag and Kings and Queens hostels, where they reportedly assaulted male students and harassed female students.
Students claimed several occupants were beaten, while mobile phones and other valuables were allegedly taken during the invasion.
Reacting to the incident, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Prof. Odunayo Clement Adebooye, condemned the alleged attack, describing it as “gory.”
He reportedly referred to the perpetrators as “animals” who “should not be living among humans.”
The Coordinator of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone D, Josiah Adeyemo, also condemned the incident and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Chief of Army Staff to identify those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice to serve as a deterrent.
Following the incident, students staged a protest, carrying placards with inscriptions including, “Students Community Isn’t War Zone,” “Nigerian Army Personnel Should Stop Harassing Us,” “Our Girls Are Not Safe,” and “We Say No To Army Brutality.”
The protesters blocked the busy Ibokun Road for several minutes before officers of the Osun State Police Command intervened and restored normal traffic.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo, expressed concern over the allegations and pledged to investigate the incident.
In a statement, the Army Public Relations Officer, Major Yahaya Ibrahim, appealed for calm and assured the public that any personnel found culpable would face appropriate sanctions.
The statement quoted the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo, as reaffirming that the Nigerian Army exists to protect all citizens, particularly young people.
“Any conduct that falls short of that mandate is unacceptable. No student or law-abiding citizen should ever feel unsafe or be subjected to harassment, intimidation or assault by those entrusted with the security of lives and property.”
The statement added, “In line with military regulations and the values of the Nigerian Army, the Commandant has ordered an investigation to ascertain the facts of the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. The NANS South-West Coordinator, Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, is kindly requested to make available all evidence and witness statements to enable a thorough investigation into the incident.
“The Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo, remains committed to ensuring that its personnel are held to the highest standards at all times. The alleged actions of the personnel do not reflect the training and character development of recruits at the depot. We therefore give our firm assurance that any personnel found guilty will face the full weight of military law. The Commandant is ready to meet with the NANS leadership at the earliest convenience to agree on the way forward.”
In a separate statement, UNIOSUN’s Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, said the university strongly condemns every form of harassment, intimidation, assault and violation of the dignity and fundamental rights of its students.
He said the Vice-Chancellor visited the affected privately owned hostels at Oke-Baale on Tuesday morning to assess the situation and interact with the affected students.
“During the visit, the Vice-Chancellor inspected the reported damage to some hostel facilities, including broken windows and doors, and met with students who narrated their experiences. He expressed the university’s sympathy with those affected and reassured them that the management would pursue every legitimate avenue to ensure that justice is served.
“The VC assured them that the university stands firmly with them and will continue to engage all relevant authorities to ensure that any personal belongings reportedly taken from the students are recovered and returned to their rightful owners. He also assured the students that the university would not relent until the matter is satisfactorily resolved.”
Adesoji further disclosed that a delegation from the Nigerian Army Depot later visited the Vice-Chancellor to brief the university on steps already taken following the incident.
“The delegation informed the Vice-Chancellor that the personnel alleged to have been involved had been identified and that appropriate disciplinary action, including their immediate dismissal from the ongoing recruitment exercise, would be taken in accordance with the military’s disciplinary procedures,” the statement added.
