UNIOSUN students protest hostel invasion, victims recount ordeal

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

Students of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo campus, on Tuesday staged a protest over the invasion of their hostels by newly recruited Nigerian Army personnel.

The students carried placards during the protest, which was attended by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone D Coordinator, Josiah Adeyemo. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Clement Adebooye, also joined the protesters.

It was gathered that some of the perpetrators of the invasion had been arrested.

Narrating his experience, one of the students, Adeyemo Anuoluwapo, said the men banged on and kicked hostel doors before ordering female students to strip.

“They started banging on doors and kicking them. They were telling girls to strip naked. When they hit the door, it banged against my head. I pleaded with them, but they started beating me with a pipe. I had a seizure and couldn’t breathe properly. They poured water on my body. I was later told at the hospital to undergo a scan”.

Another student, Ademola Jesunbo, said the men repeatedly entered her room, attempted to sexually assault her and later took away her mobile phone after searching the room.

She said, “I was in my hostel cooking when they pointed a torchlight into my room and asked me to open the door. I told them I was alone. One of them pinned me against my toilet door and told me not to shout. I managed to free myself and moved towards the door. He said I would enjoy it and should not shout. Another person came in, and they tried to force themselves on me. I shouted, and they left.

“They later returned, saying they wanted to search my room. They came back again and demanded that I open the door. They eventually entered, demanded my phone, removed my SIM card, searched everywhere and left with my phone”.