Alleged Military Assault on UNIOSUN Students Sparks Outrage in Osogbo

(UNIOSUN Gate. Photo Credit: SmartJamb)

Some soldiers from the Army Depot, Osogbo, have allegedly invaded the halls of residence of students of Osun State University, Osogbo, and assaulted students.

During the incidents, soldiers also allegedly seized and took away over 60 mobile phones and other electronic gadgets belonging to the students.

Also during the invasion, which took place on Monday evening, some female students were reportedly stripped naked and made to forcefully dance unclad by the rampaging soldiers, said to be part of the batch that had their passing-out parade the previous Saturday.

The perpetrators also allegedly r@ped a female student, but the allegation could not be immediately verified, as no victim of r@pe could be identified among the students as of the time of filing this report.

In other incidents, soldiers were also accused of beating up male students and other residents found wearing clothes or caps in Army colours.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Clement Adebooye, who visited some of the halls of residence that were attacked by the soldiers on Tuesday, said the incident had been reported to the Army Depot management.

He stated that the matter had been reported to the management of the depot, expressing sadness that the Army Depot, located close to the campus and expected to provide security cover, could eventually release men who subjected the students to such a harrowing experience.

The Public Relations Officer of the University, Ademola Adesoji, while giving further updates on the incidents in a conversation with an online news platform, said many students were affected, with over 20 already identified as victims.

He explained that the soldiers came from the Osogbo Army Depot and assaulted the students, with some female students alleging they were stripped by the soldiers and touched indecently.

He added that some male students were also assaulted, and that two students were hospitalised, one of whom had since been discharged.

He further disclosed that over 60 gadgets, including phones, were seized from the students, and that three of the perpetrators had been identified and brought to the campus.

He confirmed that the VC had taken the matter up with the Army authority, but noted that the alleged r@pe could not yet be confirmed.