•Ademola
A female student of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), simply identified as Ademola, has alleged that a soldier attempted to sexually assault her during the reported invasion of student hostels by personnel of the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo.
The allegation emerged in a video circulating online in which the student narrated her experience during the incident, which reportedly occurred on Monday evening, reports Daily Trust.
According to Ademola, she was alone in her hostel room preparing a meal when she first noticed soldiers around the hostel premises. She said the situation initially appeared to have calmed down before the soldiers allegedly returned and began knocking on doors.
She alleged that the soldiers shone flashlights into her room and demanded to know who was inside before ordering her to open the door.
“They pointed their torch at my room and asked who was inside. They told me to open the door, and I did,” she said.
The student said one of the soldiers asked how many people occupied the room. She told him that she shared the room with a roommate who was not around at the time.
Ademola alleged that the soldier then became aggressive and pinned her against the bathroom door.
“He pinned me to my bathroom door and told me I would like it. He also warned me not to shout. I kept begging him,” she alleged.
She said she struggled to free herself and moved towards the entrance of the room, repeatedly asking the soldier to leave.
According to her, another soldier later entered the room and attempted to calm her down while also telling her not to scream.
“They kept telling me to calm down and that I would like it. I started shouting and screaming, and that was when they both left the room,” she alleged.
The student said she immediately locked the door after the soldiers left, adding that one of her hostel mates later came to check on her after hearing her screams.
The allegation comes amid reports that soldiers attached to the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo, invaded several student hostels on Monday night, during which students alleged they were assaulted and had their belongings taken away.
Students claimed that more than 60 mobile phones and other valuables were carted away during the operation. Some female students also alleged that they were stripped naked and forced to dance unclothed by some of the soldiers, who were reportedly among personnel that participated in the Army Depot’s passing-out parade held last Saturday.
Reacting to the allegations yesterday, the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo, announced that it had commenced an investigation following a petition submitted by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D.
The Army said the investigation was aimed at establishing the facts surrounding the incident and assured the public that any personnel found culpable would be subjected to appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with military law.
