JALINGO — Security operatives have arrested members of a suspected criminal gang allegedly linked to a series of attacks on students of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo.
The suspects are said to be connected to attacks around the Yaggai and ATC areas of Jalingo, where several students have reportedly been robbed and assaulted in recent weeks.
The development comes days after students of the college staged a protest following an overnight attack on an off-campus female hostel. Reports at the time indicated that students were dispossessed of mobile phones and other valuables, while a female student was allegedly raped and injured. The police confirmed the hostel burglary and said an investigation had commenced.
According to information obtained in the latest development, security operatives have recovered 13 smartphones, laptops and other items believed to be connected to the activities of the arrested suspects.
The arrest is expected to provide investigators with an opportunity to establish the identities of other members of the gang and determine their alleged involvement in the attacks targeting students in the affected areas.
The incidents have generated serious concern among students, parents and other stakeholders, particularly because many students of the institution live in accommodation outside the main campus.
Earlier reports by the Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education indicated that 33 mobile phones were reported stolen during an attack on students’ hostels on September 17, with three phones recovered at the scene. The ministry subsequently called for stronger security measures, intensified investigation and safer accommodation for students.
The latest arrest therefore marks a significant development in the investigation into the attacks, although the identities of the suspects and the specific charges to be brought against them have not yet been made public.
Security agencies are expected to continue investigations to determine the full extent of the suspects’ alleged involvement and recover additional stolen property.
JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS
Beyond the arrests, attention is now turning to the victims of the attacks and the need for the investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported assaults.
The alleged sexual assault of students has not been fully established in every reported case, and earlier police statements cautioned that some allegations could not immediately be independently confirmed.
Students have repeatedly called for stronger security around their accommodation, while the National Association of Nurses has also urged the Taraba State Government to intensify security around the college and consider measures including a security checkpoint in the area.
The arrest of the suspected gang members is consequently being viewed as an important step in the wider investigation. Authorities will also need to ensure that evidence is properly documented, victims are supported and anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
**The immediate priority remains clear: protect students, establish the facts surrounding the attacks, recover stolen property and ensure due process for anyone found responsible.**
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