Students and staff of Ibarahim Badamosi Babangida University Lapai (IBBUL), Niger State were in a muddle after a foetus was reportedly discovered in a refuse bin inside the female hostel around 6am, by a 100-Level student of History and International Relations walking on the veranda. The discovery was greeted with harsh reactions from staff and students who described it as ‘abortion’. They all condemned the act and criticised the unidentified perpetrator.

The news of the foetus spread like wildfire, attracting the attention of the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Major Tete Kudu (rtd), the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Dr Musa Ma’ali, as well as a nursing staff working at the university clinic. The management, with hopes of catching the culprit decided to carry out medical tests on female students. 

Reports say that the management of the institution had cautioned occupants of the hostel against disseminating the event on social media platforms to avoid tarnishing the image of the institution. However, some students chose to speak to news reporters anonymously.  

A male student stated that most of the female students were still angry that the nurse and security officers could not detect the culprit even after subjecting them to ‘embarrassing’ medical test for hours. It was reported that the nurse was forced to stop the delivery verification examination after the female students protested against the manner she was carrying out the exercise.

A student, who reluctantly gave her name as Saratu, said the hostel gate was finally opened by 11 am after it had been locked for over four hours.

“No doubt, there is every reason to probe the incident. But we had to compel the investigation team to stop their screening for our own safety. After using only one surgical glove on several students, some of us refused to allow the nurse insert her hand into our private parts. We had to protect ourselves from contacting vaginal infections,” said Saratu.

A credible source from the management side, who also refused to mention his name because he was not expected to reveal the outcome of the medical investigation, said in contrast to the students’ submission, the perpetrator was caught during the test performed on the students.

“The lady who aborted and discarded the foetus was eventually identified. She confessed to have done it, and pleaded for mercy. She was seriously rebuked by the staff of the school who came to conduct the medical test at the hostel.

“It was unanimously agreed that the issue should not be exposed. It is the reason why the identity of the girl was hidden from other students,” the source noted.