Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) has confirmed that five soldiers have been arrested following allegations that military personnel invaded a female hostel near the university, where they allegedly sexually assaulted, harassed, and robbed students.
The development came after students staged a protest, demanding justice and improved security following the incident.
Addressing the protesting students, the Vice-Chancellor condemned the alleged actions of the soldiers, describing the incident as unacceptable and a betrayal of the trust placed in security personnel.
“The people we have recruited to protect us have turned around to become our enemies. Those we call upon when we are under security threats have themselves become security threats against us. This is not acceptable in any nation. It should not be acceptable in our university, and it should not be acceptable in Osun State,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
He disclosed that the military authorities had reached out to the university management and confirmed that five soldiers linked to the incident had been apprehended.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the university has been informed that investigations are underway.
“The military top echelon has reached out to us. They actually came to campus this morning. Five of the soldiers have been arrested. Five of them have been apprehended,” he told the students.
The Vice-Chancellor further stated that the alleged victims reported being sexually assaulted, harassed, and robbed during the incident. He assured students that the university would continue to work with the military and other security agencies to ensure justice is served and those found responsible are held accountable.
The incident has sparked outrage among students and residents, with many calling for a transparent investigation and stronger measures to guarantee the safety of students living around the university community.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had not released a detailed public statement on the allegations beyond the reported arrests of the suspected soldiers.
