Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, has confirmed that the military has arrested five soldiers allegedly involved in the invasion of students’ hostels.
Speaking to protesting students on campus, Adebooye stated that the military high command acted promptly by detaining the personnel accused of attacking students during the raid.
“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,” the Vice Chancellor said.
He alleged that the soldiers assaulted students, stole their belongings and damaged hostel property during the operation.
According to him, the suspects allegedly raped some students, seized mobile phones after removing their SIM cards, stole power banks and cash, and vandalised doors and windows in several hostels.
“They raped our students. They collected phones from students, removed the SIM cards and took away the phones.
“They took away power banks. They took away money from students. They broke the doors and windows of hostels,” he said.
Adebooye condemned the actions of the soldiers, describing them as a betrayal of the trust reposed in security personnel.
“The people we have recruited to protect us have turned around to become our enemy.
“The people we are supposed to call upon when we are under security threat have themselves become security threats against us. This is not acceptable in any nation,” he stated.
The Vice Chancellor said he had personally visited the affected hostels and witnessed the extent of the destruction and trauma suffered by students.
“I visited about 12 or 13 hostels, and I wept while discussing the incident with the military commander. This should not happen in the same society,” he added.
He also appealed to military authorities to confine newly graduated recruits to their barracks and keep them away from the university environment, adding that the institution would only seek military assistance through the proper command structure when necessary.
Adebooye further acknowledged the emotional and psychological toll the incident had on students, assuring them that both the university and the Osun State Government would continue to pursue justice over the alleged abuse.
