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From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
The Taraba State Police Command has promised to deploy more security personnel to student hostels and other vulnerable areas following the attack on female hostels at the college of nursing sciences and the State owned University in Jalingo.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Didango Shehu Monday, gave the assurance while confirming the incidents to journalists in Jalingo on Monday.
Didango said the Command has received report of the invasion where suspected hoodlums attacked female hostels located outside the main campuses of the institutions and dispossessed students of their belongings.
He said the police is aware that one of the female students was allegedly raped during the attack, adding that investigation has commenced to arrest the perpetrators.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police has directed for immediate deployment of more patrol teams to the affected community and other student-dominated areas to forestall further occurrence.
He assured students and the general public that the police would not relent in its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property in the state.
According to students, the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday when suspected hoodlums invaded the hostel while students were asleep and attacked occupants.
The attackers were said to have dispossessed several students of their mobile phones, money and other personal belongings, with one female student allegedly raped during the invasion.
The development sparked tension among students, leading to a peaceful protest on Monday morning, as hundreds of students took to the streets to demand improved security.
The students said the protest was not only about Monday’s incident but also about the general insecurity faced by those living outside the institution’s premises in private hostels.
They lamented that students who cannot secure accommodation within the school campus are forced to live in isolated areas where they are vulnerable to criminal attacks.
Reacting to the incident, the Deputy Provost of the institution, Mr. Khikando Agyo Yavini, who spoke on behalf of the Provost, Dr. Mrs. Dorcas S. Dugule, said management is collaborating with security agencies to address the situation.
He assured that management is on top of the matter and is working to prevent further occurrence, while appealing to students to remain calm and allow security agencies to carry out their investigations.
