Five soldiers have been arrested in connection with the alleged overnight invasion of student hostels in Osogbo, Osun State, the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Professor Clement Adebooye, has confirmed.
Professor Adebooye disclosed that the soldiers, believed to be recently passed-out military recruits, allegedly stormed about 16 off-campus hostels in the Oke Baale area, where they reportedly assaulted students, seized valuables, destroyed property and sexually harassed female residents.
“As of the meeting we had yesterday morning, five of the soldiers have been apprehended,” the Vice-Chancellor said, adding that the university had reported the incident to military authorities, prompting senior military officers to visit the institution and commence investigations.
He clarified that the affected hostels are privately owned facilities located outside the university campus, and that the institution’s security network does not extend to those areas. He also dismissed claims that the university had requested military assistance, stressing that UNIOSUN had no involvement whatsoever in the soldiers’ presence around the hostels.
“We did not engage them for any purpose at all. They simply went to the hostel locations and carried out the act,” he said.
Eyewitness accounts, according to the Vice-Chancellor, indicated that the soldiers moved in groups and attacked multiple hostels across the area. He described the incident as traumatic for students and condemned the conduct of the recruits, drawing a clear distinction between the actions of the recruits and the long-standing peaceful relationship between the university and neighbouring military formations.
“We have lived peacefully with the military for years. The top echelon of the military are refined officers, but these recruits carried out an unacceptable act of violence against students,” he said.
Professor Adebooye called for severe disciplinary measures against those found culpable, recommending their dismissal from military service after due process.
“These officers are not fit to serve in the Nigerian Army. I recommend that they be summarily dismissed after trial,” he stated.
He further warned that failure to adequately punish those responsible could encourage impunity and undermine public confidence in security institutions, adding that the university community, civil society groups and student bodies may consider additional legal options if they are dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation.
Military authorities are yet to issue a public statement on the matter as investigations remain ongoing.
Source: The Nations
