Students of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) have narrated disturbing experiences following an alleged invasion of their off-campus hostels by suspected Nigerian Army personnel in Osogbo, Osun State.

The incident, which occurred around the Oke-Baale area where many students reside, allegedly involved newly recruited soldiers awaiting deployment.

Victims claimed the uniformed men stormed several hostels, assaulted students, damaged property and, in some cases, allegedly attempted sexual assault.

One of the victims, Eunice Oretade, alleged that one of the soldiers sexually assaulted her after forcing his way into her room.

“One of them grabbed me from behind and started fondling my breasts. He even told me not to shout.

“He asked me to take off my underwear, but I pleaded with him to let me go. I started shouting before another one of them told him to leave me alone.”

Another student, Adeyemo Anuoluwapo, said she was beaten after the soldiers forced their way into her hostel.

“They started banging on doors and kicking them. They were telling girls to strip naked. When they hit my door, it slammed against my head.

“I was pleading with them, but one of them started beating me with a pipe. I had a seizure and couldn’t breathe properly. They poured water on my body.”

“Thereafter, I was taken to the hospital, where I was admitted until the following morning. I was given drugs and advised to undergo a scan, but I don’t have the money to do it yet.”

Another female student, Ademola Jesunbo, alleged that two soldiers attempted to sexually assault her after she opened the door to her room.

“I was in my hostel cooking when I noticed they were around. They flashed their torchlight towards my room.

“I asked who was there, but they told me to open the door. I was asked how many people were in the room, and I told them I was alone because my roommate wasn’t around.”

“When I opened the door, one of them pinned me against my toilet door. He told me not to shout and said I would enjoy it.

“I managed to free myself from his grip and moved towards the door. He kept saying I would enjoy it and shouldn’t shout.

“Then one of his colleagues came in, and both of them tried to force themselves on me. I shouted, and they immediately moved out.”

“One of my hostel mates, a male student, came to find out what was happening after hearing my screams.”

“He asked me to open the door, which I did, not knowing he had been ordered by those people to ask me to do so.

“They entered my room with him. They said they wanted to search my room, which they did before leaving.”

“They came back again with him and ordered me to open the door, but I refused. My hostel mate kept begging me to open it because they were threatening him.

“When I eventually opened the door, they demanded my phone, but I refused to hand it over.

“One of them collected a pipe from his colleague and threatened to beat me. He seized my phone, removed my SIM card, scattered everything in my room and left with my phone.”

A Microbiology student, Salau Tomiwa, also alleged that he was assaulted after refusing to leave his hostel.

“In the afternoon, they came to my hostel, King and Queen Hostel. At first, they didn’t enter because they were harassing a girl in the hostel beside mine.

“Later, they came to the room next to mine and demanded that the occupant give them her phone number, but she refused. A second soldier arrived with a pipe and insisted that she must give them her number.”

“They were looking at people in my hostel when they suddenly ordered everyone in the house to come outside. I didn’t move because I had done nothing wrong.

“One of them wanted to hit me, but I resisted. They then ordered me to drop my phone, but I refused. Four of them later descended on me after they discovered that my colleagues had run away.

“They started beating me with plumbing pipes. During the assault, I snatched the beret of one of them, but they left with my phone.”

“They came back as a group of four. When they saw that everyone else in my hostel had left and that I was defenceless, they started beating me with pipes.”

The incident has triggered condemnation from student groups and civil society organisations, while military sources said five soldiers suspected to have been involved have been arrested and are being investigated by the Military Police.

Reacting, the Public Relations Officer of the Army Depot, Major Yahaya Ibrahim, said the Commandant had ordered a full investigation, stressing that the alleged actions of a few personnel do not reflect the values of the Nigerian Army.

“The Depot wishes to reiterate that the Nigerian Army exists to protect all citizens, especially the youth, who are the future of the nation.

“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.

“In line with military regulations and the values of the Nigerian Army, the Commandant has ordered an investigation to ascertain the facts surrounding 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 facilitate a thorough investigation into the incident.”

The Army said the investigation is ongoing and assured that any personnel found culpable would be dealt with in accordance with military regulations, while urging witnesses to cooperate with investigators. (The Sun)