New Army Recruits Allegedly Invade UNIOSUN Students’ Hotels, Snatch Phone, Injure Five

Some newly recruited Nigerian army personnel have allegedly attacked students’ hotels of Osun State University, located at Shasha area , Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Monday night.

The attackers reportedly assaulted several students and snatched numerous mobile phones and power banks. The female students were beaten while male students were sexualy harassed.

According to findings, the recruits, said to be from the Nigerian Army Depot in Osogbo, had earlier visited areas around the students’ community under the guise of relaxing at entertainment centres.

Witnesses alleged that some of the recruits harassed young men in the area and demanded money transfers into designated bank accounts.

The situation later escalated when the recruits allegedly stormed about 20 student hostels, including Cristalag and Kings and Queens hostels, where they reportedly unleashed violence on the occupants.

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.

One of the victims said, “It was around midnight when the attackers came. They caused chaos, injured some students, and took away many phones belonging to the students.”

Reacting to the development, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Professor Clement Adebooye, condemned the incident, describing it as “gory.” He reportedly referred to the perpetrators as “animals” who “should not be living among humans.”

Also reacting, the Coordinator of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone D, Josiah Adeyemo, called on President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Army Staff to identify those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others.

The Nigerian Army had yet to officially respond to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.

UNIOSUN Students had thronged the streets of Osogbo to protest alleged harassment, sexual assault and stealing of their belongings by the suspected armed recruits.