By Juliet Umeh
Within the space of one week, Osun State University, UNIOSUN, has found itself grappling with two disturbing incidents that have sparked outrage and renewed questions about the safety and welfare of students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
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The first was an alleged midnight invasion of private student hostels by military recruits, during which students claimed they were assaulted, female students were sexually harassed, properties vandalised and mobile phones stolen.
Days earlier, the university community was mourning the death of a final-year criminology student, Grace Marvellous Osunlakin, whose death triggered protests over healthcare access after she reportedly could not receive prompt medical attention during the Oro festival movement restrictions in Ifetedo. Although the two incidents are unrelated, together they paint a troubling picture of the risks confronting students beyond the lecture halls, from insecurity and abuse to healthcare limitations and community restrictions.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, the Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, Prof. Odunayo Adeboye, described the alleged attack by the military recruits as one of the darkest moments in the institution’s recent history.
‘It was devastating’
According to him, the recruits allegedly stormed no fewer than 16 privately-owned hostels about 9 p.m., forcing their way into rooms occupied by students.
“It was quite devastating for me when I visited the hostels,” Adeboye said.
“I visited about 16 hostels that were attacked and ravaged by the military recruits. It was so bad.”
Rejecting claims that the attack was provoked by students wearing military camouflage, the Vice Chancellor insisted there was no evidence to support such allegations.
Instead, he said students reported that the recruits broke doors and windows, assaulted male students, sexually harassed female students and carted away mobile phones after removing the SIM cards and handing them back to their owners. “Whenever they met female students in any room, they went in and touched them inappropriately,” he said. “The situation will make you cry as a woman, and I cried as a man that innocent children were touched inappropriately.”
According to him, two female students were hospitalised following the alleged assault, while several students were left traumatised.
The incident triggered protests by the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Southwest Zone, with demonstrators blocking major roads in Osogbo before university authorities intervened. ‘They are not fit to serve’
While acknowledging the long-standing cordial relationship between the university and neighbouring military formations, Adeboye distinguished the alleged actions of the recruits from the conduct of senior military officers.
“We have lived peacefully with the military. We share boundaries with both the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army,” he said.
“The top echelon of the military are refined gentlemen and civilised officers.”
However, he reserved strong words for the recruits allegedly involved.
“These officers are not fit to serve in the Nigerian Army. They are misfits,” he declared.
“I recommend to the military authorities and the Federal Government that, after due trial, they should be summarily dismissed.”
The Vice Chancellor disclosed that five suspects had already been apprehended by military authorities following discussions between the university and senior officers.
He, however, maintained that the university, labour unions and students would not hesitate to pursue other legal options if the disciplinary measures eventually imposed fail to deliver justice.
“If we are not satisfied with the outcome of the investigation and the punitive measures, we may seek alternative options,” he said.
“This borders on social justice. It borders on abuse of the youthful generation and devastation of the brains that will develop this country. Something must be done to serve as a deterrent.”
Another tragedy
While the university community was still processing the alleged military attack, attention has also remained on the death of Grace Marvellous Osunlakin, a 400-level student of Criminology and Security Studies.
According to the Vice Chancellor, “the student had successfully defended her dissertation earlier that day and appeared healthy before returning to her private residence in Ifetedo.
“She later attended a Christian fellowship before returning home around 8 p.m., shortly after the Oro festival commenced.
The traditional festival imposes movement restrictions on women at night in parts of the community,” hr said.
Adeboye said that around 11 p.m., Osunlakin suddenly developed severe abdominal cramps.
He explained: “Although university medical records showed she had a history of chronic asthma, the exact cause of the medical emergency remains uncertain.
“Her colleagues rushed her to a nearby community health centre where she was pronounced dead.
“There was no way she could have been taken to the university clinic because of the Oro festival restrictions,” he noted.
“The circumstances surrounding her death were quite pathetic. It is a major loss to the university and to the state.”
Students demand better healthcare
The student’s death triggered protests by students who demanded improved welfare and healthcare services at the Ifetedo campus.
Addressing the protests, Adeboye said the tragedy merely brought to the surface concerns students had harboured for some time.
“The students had bottled some anger before then about a few things concerning the Ifetedo campus in particular,” he said. “The death of Grace made them feel those issues had to be addressed so that we will not have a repeat of Osunlakin’s death.”
According to him, one of the major demands was the establishment of a 24-hour medical service at the campus.
“They wanted us to be running a 24-hour clinic service in Ifetedo, which we have consented to and which we will do. We are going to implement that forthwith,” the Vice Chancellor assured.
He added that students also complained about the location of the university clinic, which they said is difficult to access during emergencies because it sits on elevated terrain.
“They are saying that our clinic is located on the cliff of a mountain and that we should try to build another health centre at the lower slope so that students will have easy access, especially when someone is completely sapped of energy and cannot climb to that location,” he explained.
He disclosed that the university has also begun discussions with the traditional authorities in Ifetedo to ensure cultural practices do not hinder emergency medical response in future. “We are already discussing the monarch of Ifetedo on how the Oro festival will not affect the movement of students in case of emergency. We are discussing all these issues, and we are set to address the concerns the students have raised.”
Beyond the campus
The twin incidents have once again highlighted the multiple vulnerabilities confronting students in Nigeria.
Beyond concerns about cultism, kidnapping and campus insecurity, students increasingly face risks arising from weak emergency healthcare systems, off-campus accommodation challenges and interactions with security personnel.
The twin incidents have reinforced calls for stronger collaboration among universities, host communities, security agencies and government to better protect students.
As investigations continue and the university rolls out healthcare reforms, the focus now is on whether the tragedies will lead to lasting accountability and meaningful institutional change.
