The Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education has intervened in the protest by students of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, following reports of an alleged rape and attempted robbery at a female hostel outside the institution.
A delegation from the Ministry, led by its Secretary, Solomon Daniel Nathaniel, alongside directors and other senior officials, visited the college to engage the protesting students and appeal for calm.
Addressing the government delegation, the President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) alleged that a female student was raped during the incident, while an attempted robbery also occurred at the female hostel.
The students reportedly demanded immediate relocation to the college’s on-campus hostels, which have yet to be put into use, giving the government a 24-hour deadline.
They also threatened to march to the Taraba State Government House if their demand was not addressed.
Speaking on behalf of the government, Goje appealed to the students to suspend the protest and return to their hostels.
He subsequently contacted the Secretary to the Taraba State Government, Barrister Gebon Timothy Kataps, by telephone, who communicated measures agreed by the government to address the situation.
According to the resolutions, security personnel would be immediately deployed to the affected hostels to enhance the safety of the students.
The government also directed the students to suspend the protest and return to their hostels, while a formal meeting between the SUG and government representatives was scheduled for September 22, 2026.
The SUG president initially accepted the government’s proposals and communicated them to the protesting students.
However, the students reportedly refused to disperse and continued with the protest despite a further assurance from the Commissioner of Police that security personnel would be deployed to the hostels immediately.
The development has heightened concerns over the safety of students of the College of Nursing Sciences, particularly those residing in hostels outside the institution’s premises.
The Ministry said its intervention was aimed at restoring calm while working with relevant authorities and the students’ leadership to address the security concerns and find a lasting solution to the hostel situation.
Taraba govt intervenes as nursing students protest alleged rape, robbery