Students at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, in Anambra State, attacked and stripped a lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies on Saturday over allegations that he attempted to sexually molest a female student. The incident occurred after the female student emerged from the lecturer’s office holding his clothes and claimed he had tried to assault her.
Viral Video Shows Assault
A video clip that has gone viral shows at least six men, believed to be students, hitting and stomping on the lecturer, who was completely stripped, within the university premises. The female student, seen crying after reportedly running out of the office, was said to have pretended to consent to the sexual encounter until the academic had removed most of his clothes, according to Premium Times.
University Condemns Violence, Orders Investigation
The management of UNIZIK, as the university is popularly known, condemned the assault and stripping. In a statement on Saturday night, the university’s spokesman, Aloysius Attah, said the institution has ordered an investigation into the incident. “Management is deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident and strongly condemns the resort to violence, self-help, or any form of jungle justice under any circumstance,” Attah said.
Attah added that the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ugochukwu Anyaehie, has reaffirmed the university’s zero-tolerance policy towards sexual misconduct and harassment. “At the same time, management emphasises that allegations of misconduct must be handled through established institutional procedures and due process. No individual or group is permitted to take the law into their own hands within the university environment,” he said.
Similar Incident at Paul University
The alleged sexual assault at UNIZIK occurred barely a month after Paul University, a neighbouring private institution in Awka, suspended one of its lecturers, Cornelius Eze, over allegations of “serious sexual misconduct.” A viral video had surfaced showing a lecturer allegedly caught having a sexual affair in his office with an unidentified student. In that clip, the lecturer was said to have escaped through a window when angry students stormed his office, with the video showing a man in shorts hiding in a bush nearby.
The UNIZIK spokesman said “appropriate administrative processes” have been activated to ensure justice is served fairly and objectively. He assured that further developments will be communicated in due course.
