RismadarVoice Reporters
September 21, 2026
Hundreds of students of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, staged a protest on Monday following an alleged overnight attack on a female hostel located outside the institution’s main campus.
The students are demanding urgent action from the college management, the Taraba State Government and security agencies after suspected hoodlums reportedly invaded the hostel, robbed students of their belongings and allegedly sexually assaulted a female student.
According to reports from local media, the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, September 21, when the attackers allegedly entered the hostel while students were asleep.
Sources said the assailants stole mobile phones and other valuables before allegedly attacking some of the occupants. One female student was reportedly raped during the incident and sustained serious injuries.
Some reports further alleged that one of the victim’s fingers was cut during the attack. The victim was subsequently taken to a hospital in the Mile 6 area of Jalingo for medical attention.
However, the allegations, including the reported sexual assault and extent of the victim’s injuries, had not been independently confirmed by the police or another official authority as of the time of publication.
The latest incident has heightened concerns among students, particularly those living in hostels outside the college premises.
Students gathered at the college gate on Monday to demand stronger security around their accommodation and urgent intervention from the relevant authorities.
A students’ union official, who spoke anonymously, reportedly said the latest incident was the second major security breach involving students’ hostels within two weeks.
According to the student representative, an earlier attack occurred the previous week, during which students reportedly lost phones and other personal belongings.
The students said they had raised concerns with the college authorities following the earlier incident and that the Commissioner for Tertiary Education subsequently visited the institution and promised that security measures would be strengthened.
They are now questioning why further attacks were allegedly allowed to occur despite the earlier warning.
The latest protest follows an earlier visit by officials of the Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education to the college over a reported hostel robbery.
According to reports on the ministry’s findings, armed men had previously invaded student hostels, assaulted some students and stole 33 mobile phones. Three phones and a cutlass were reportedly recovered at the scene.
The ministry subsequently recommended urgent security measures, a more intensive investigation into the attacks and the relocation of students to safer accommodation. It also called for the completion and commissioning of new hostel facilities within the college.
Students have renewed calls for the recommendations to be implemented, particularly the relocation of students currently living in vulnerable accommodation outside the main campus.
They said the college has several hostel facilities but that students remain dispersed in off-campus accommodation where they believe security arrangements are inadequate.
The protesters are also calling for security agencies to investigate the latest incident, identify those responsible and prosecute anyone found culpable.
The development has raised broader concerns about the safety of students living in privately operated hostels around tertiary institutions, particularly where there is limited surveillance or night-time security.
The students want the authorities to provide adequate security around their accommodation and ensure that future attacks are prevented.
The college’s Provost, Dr Dorcas Dugule, reportedly confirmed that the matter was being handled but declined to provide detailed comments at the time.
