Hundreds of students of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, staged a peaceful protest on Monday following another reported security incident at one of the female hostels located outside the institution’s main premises.
The protest was triggered by reports that suspected hoodlums invaded the hostel during the early hours of Monday, with students alleging that occupants were attacked and valuables were taken.
Reports from the protest indicated that a female student was allegedly assaulted during the incident and subsequently taken to a hospital for medical attention. The circumstances surrounding the alleged assault are still being reported, and authorities have not publicly provided a full account of the latest incident.
The students gathered around the college premises to demand stronger security measures, expressing concern over what they described as repeated attacks on accommodation occupied by students.
The latest protest comes only days after another serious security breach involving student hostels in Jalingo.
The Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education had earlier visited the College of Nursing Sciences after an attack on student hostels on September 17.
According to the ministry’s account, armed men invaded the hostels, assaulted some students and stole mobile phones and other valuables. The ministry said 33 phones were reportedly stolen, with three later recovered, while several students sustained injuries. A cutlass was also reportedly recovered from the scene.
The ministry's delegation subsequently recommended urgent security measures, increased surveillance and further investigation into the incident.
It also called for efforts to provide safer accommodation for students, including the completion and commissioning of new hostel facilities within the college.
The issue of accommodation has become a major concern for the institution. The college management reportedly informed the ministry that some of the rented hostels currently used by students had been sold and that the institution had received notice to vacate them by November 2026.
During Monday's protest, students called on the Taraba State Government, college management and security agencies to take immediate steps to protect them.
They are particularly concerned about students living outside the main campus and want safer accommodation and stronger security arrangements around existing hostels.
The protest has also renewed questions about how quickly the recommendations made after the earlier attack will be implemented.
The College of Nursing Sciences is responsible for training nurses and midwives in the state, making the safety of its students an important concern for parents, staff and the wider community.
As of the latest reports, students are pressing for concrete security measures to prevent further attacks and ensure that they can continue their academic activities in a safe environment.