He Pinned Me to the Bathroom Door, UNIOSUN Student Recounts Alleged Assault by Soldier

A female student of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) has alleged that one of the soldiers who invaded off-campus student hostels in Osogbo, Osun State, attempted to sexually assault her after forcing his way into her room during a late-night operation that has sparked widespread outrage.

The student, identified simply as Ademola, recounted her experience in a video that has since circulated on social media. According to her, she was alone in her hostel room preparing a meal when soldiers, believed to be from the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo, arrived in the area on Monday night.

She said the soldiers initially moved through the neighbourhood before returning later in the evening, knocking on doors, searching rooms and ordering students to open their doors.

“My name is Ademola, a student of Osun State University. I was in my hostel room cooking when I noticed they were around. After a while everything died down. However, later, we started hearing noise again,” she said.

According to the student, one of the soldiers directed a flashlight into her room and asked how many people were inside.

“One of them asked how many of us were inside the room and I told him two. I also told him my roommate wasn’t around.”

She alleged that the encounter turned violent after one of the soldiers entered her room.

“He pinned me to my bathroom door, told me I would like it. He also told me not to shout. So, I begged him.”

Ademola said she managed to free herself and moved towards the door while repeatedly asking the soldier to leave.

“I had to look for a way to get out of his hold and moved to the door. On moving to the door, I told him to move out.”

She further alleged that another soldier entered the room and attempted to calm her while encouraging his colleague.

“His colleague came in and also told me to calm down, that I would love it and that I shouldn’t shout.”

According to her, she raised the alarm by screaming loudly, forcing both soldiers to flee.

“When they started moving, I shouted and screamed. After shouting, they both moved out and I had to use force to close the door.”

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She added that another student later came to check on her after hearing the commotion.

The allegation comes amid growing reports that soldiers invaded several off-campus hostels occupied by UNIOSUN students on Monday night. Multiple students alleged that military personnel stormed hostels in the Oke Baale and Shasha areas of Osogbo, physically assaulted residents and forcefully entered rooms.

Witnesses claimed that more than 20 student hostels were affected during the operation, with several students reportedly sustaining injuries after being beaten. Students also alleged that over 60 mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices were taken during the raid.

Some female students further alleged that they were stripped and subjected to degrading treatment during the incident, while others claimed they were threatened and intimidated. These allegations have not been independently verified, and investigations are ongoing. Some residents also alleged that the soldiers demanded money from young people they encountered before proceeding to the student hostels.

The incident triggered protests on Tuesday as hundreds of UNIOSUN students blocked sections of the Osogbo–Ikirun Road, demanding justice for victims and the prosecution of any personnel found responsible. The protesters carried placards condemning the alleged assault and called on both the Federal Government and the military authorities to ensure accountability.

The management of Osun State University condemned the reported invasion, describing it as disturbing and unacceptable. Vice-Chancellor Professor Clement Adebooye visited some of the affected hostels and assured students that the institution would continue engaging relevant security agencies to ensure justice is served.

The university disclosed that it had formally notified the leadership of the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo, over the allegations and reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of students.

Responding to the allegations, the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo, confirmed that it had commenced an investigation following a petition submitted by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Army said the Commandant had directed a thorough investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident. The military assured the public that any officer or soldier found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary measures and any other legal consequences.

The Army also appealed to victims and witnesses to cooperate with investigators by providing statements and any available evidence to support the inquiry. The investigation remains ongoing.

He Pinned Me to the Bathroom Door, UNIOSUN Student Recounts Alleged Assault by Soldier

NELFUND Warns Institutions Against Withholding Student Loan Refunds, Arbitrary Fee Hikes

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has warned tertiary institutions across Nigeria against withholding student loan refunds due to beneficiaries or using the student loan scheme as a basis for increasing tuition and other institutional fees.

The agency said institutions that have already received tuition payments on behalf of students who had previously paid their fees must promptly refund the affected students. It stressed that failure to do so undermines the objectives of the student loan programme and places unnecessary financial burdens on beneficiaries.

NELFUND also cautioned school authorities against introducing arbitrary fee increases or exploiting the loan scheme to impose additional charges on students, noting that the programme was created to improve access to higher education rather than justify higher education costs.

According to the fund, reports of delayed refunds and unexplained fee adjustments by some institutions have raised concerns, prompting the warning. It urged all participating institutions to comply with the operational guidelines governing the scheme and ensure transparency in the management of students’ financial obligations.

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The agency reiterated its commitment to protecting the interests of beneficiaries and maintaining the integrity of the student loan programme. It added that institutions found violating the guidelines could face appropriate sanctions in line with applicable regulations.

NELFUND encouraged students who experience difficulties in obtaining refunds or who suspect irregularities in the implementation of the loan scheme to report such cases through its official complaint channels for prompt investigation and resolution.

The fund reaffirmed that the student loan initiative is designed to ease the financial burden on students and expand access to quality tertiary education, urging all stakeholders to support its successful implementation through accountability and strict compliance with established procedures.

NELFUND Warns Institutions Against Withholding Student Loan Refunds, Arbitrary Fee Hikes

PCN Raises Novena University’s Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) Admission Quota to 120

Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, has secured a major boost for its healthcare training capacity following the approval by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) to increase the admission quota for its Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) programme to 120 students.

The approval, conveyed in a letter signed by the Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Pharm. Ibrahim B. Ahmed, followed a comprehensive verification and monitoring exercise carried out by the Council at the university’s Faculty of Pharmacy.

As the statutory regulator of pharmacy education in Nigeria, the Council said the decision was based on its satisfaction with the remarkable improvements recorded in the faculty’s physical infrastructure, teaching facilities and human resources.

The increased quota is expected to expand access to pharmacy education for aspiring students while supporting the Federal Government’s drive to strengthen the training of healthcare professionals across the country.

The development further reinforces Novena University’s growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading private institutions for medical and health sciences education.

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Established as the first private university in Delta State, Novena University has continued to consolidate its position through the delivery of accredited undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across a wide range of disciplines, such as Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Optometry, Medical Laboratory Science, Public Health, Law, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Accounting, Business Administration, Mass Communication, Political Science, Intelligence and Security Studies, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Physiology and Anatomy.

Reacting to the approval, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Godwin Nduka, expressed appreciation to the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria for its effective regulatory and supervisory role.

He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to continually investing in academic excellence, modern facilities and quality manpower development to meet Nigeria’s healthcare and national development needs.

Professor Nduka noted that the latest approval aligns with the university’s vision of complementing government efforts in producing highly skilled professionals capable of driving national growth and improving healthcare delivery.

PCN Raises Novena University’s Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) Admission Quota to 120