UNIOSUN students block road, protest alleged assault by Army recruits

Suspects apprehended, investigation ongoing – Army

By Shina Abubakar

In a bid to show grievances over the alleged assault inflicted on students by the new intake of the Nigerian Army late Monday, students of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo campus, have barricaded the popular Obokun road, creating gridlock.

The students, in the company of the Southwest Coordinator of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS Zone D), Josiah Adeyemo, bear placards with inscriptions, “Students are not safe”, “Our Girls are not Animals”, “We demand justice”, among others.

The students moved from their hostels towards Shasha market and stormed the highway, blocking the road from users in protest of the said “unscrupulous” soldiers.

Vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Clement Adebooye, joined the protest after addressing the affected students at their hostels.

Some soldiers were reported to have stormed students’ hostel, molesting female students and assaulting their male counterparts, stealing their phones and valuables.

Some female students alleged that they were forced to strip and were sexually assaulted, while male students claimed they were beaten, with several alleging that their mobile phones and other valuables were stolen during the incident.

However, the Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Army Depot, Osogbo, Major Abdullahi Ibrahim, disclosed that the incident is unfortunate and unlike the tradition of the Army.

He said some of those involved have been arrested and the Commandant have ordered an investigation into the incident with a view to punishing those involved.

Details later…