Soldiers Allegedly Gang-Rape 300-Level University Student In Ondo

A 300-level student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State has allegedly been gang-raped by some soldiers of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigeria Army.

The incident was said to have occurred at the military checkpoint at Ikare-Akoko in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

A source who chose to remain anonymous explained that the victim, a 300-level student of the Department of Religious and African Studies of AAUA, was going from campus to Ikare-Akoko when the incident happened.

The source named one of the soldiers as Lance Corporal Sunday, stating that the victim was raped serially by the soldiers.

The source explained that Corporal Sunday had ordered that the victim alighted from a minibus, told other passengers to proceed with the trip and then took the lady into a cubicle at the back of the checkpoint where the soldiers raped her.

“We were coming from Akungba in a minibus on Wednesday evening, on getting to the checkpoint, the soldier (Sunday) looked inside our taxi and pointed to the lady and ordered her to get down. We didn’t know why he did that. When the lady alighted, he took her to their mini-barracks and asked us to leave the scene.

“Out of fear we left the place, hoping that she will be released immediately but she was not released until after one hour later. After that, we discovered that she was serially raped by the soldiers at the checkpoint.

“Immediately we went to Ikare Police Station to report the incident and rushed her to Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Ikare-Akoko for examination and treatment as I am talking to you, she is at the hospital.

She added “This is not the first time such a thing will be happening at the soldiers’ checkpoint in the town. The commuters who are mostly students that live in Ikare are often asexually harassed especially in the evening. The soldiers will be using their hands to press our breasts while inside a cab, in the name of stop and search.”

The management of the AAUA, through its Head, Media, and Protocol Unit, Mr. Victor Akinpelumi, who confirmed that the management of the institution was aware of the incident and that investigation has begun into the matter.

According to him, “The management is aware and an investigation had commenced. The university has set up a panel to look into the matter and we will get back to you.”