Fear, Floods, and Harassment: UNICAL Hostel 9 Turns Nightmare for Female Students

Barely weeks to the close of the current academic session, female students of Hostel 9 at the University of Calabar are raising alarm over worsening conditions they describe as life-threatening. From electric shocks due to exposed wires, to relentless flooding, sexual harassment, and encounters with dangerous reptiles, residents say they are living in daily fear for their safety.

Maria Eteng, a 19-year-old student, described repeated electric shocks caused by naked wires hanging loosely around bathrooms and common rooms. She recounted how a fellow student almost died from electrocution after touching a soaked metal bed frame during a rainstorm. “We have to scoop water with bowls after every rainfall, and everything from books to mattresses gets ruined,” she said.

The situation grows more dire with the appearance of snakes and other reptiles, drawn to the hostel’s untidy and damp environment. According to several students, these infestations are now frequent occurrences, forcing many to abandon their bunks during the night. The girls also decried the stench from clogged gutters and overflowing soakaways, calling on the school authorities to urgently carry out desilting and fumigation.

Beyond environmental threats, some students reported an increase in harassment, particularly from unauthorized male visitors and errand boys who roam freely through the halls. One of the students, Blessing Akpan, claimed that several female occupants face unsolicited advances, especially after dark, when security presence dwindles.

Despite these hardships, the students acknowledged the efforts of Vice Chancellor Prof. Florence Obi, whose administration has invested in campus-wide infrastructural renewal. However, they urged her to focus immediate attention on what they call “Malabo Republic” — the area housing Hostels 7, 8, and 9 — before the end of her tenure.

Prof. Obi, during a recent visit to the hostels, cautioned students against unsanitary practices, which she said worsen the condition of their environment. She also warned against illegal electrical connections, noting that such acts contribute to the high risk of electric shocks. She assured the students that their complaints about leakages and flooding had been noted and would be addressed.

With growing student voices now amplified on social media, many are urging the university management to act swiftly and prevent what could become a deadly disaster. Several rights groups have also picked interest in the case, promising to pressure school authorities into addressing the dilapidated state of the hostel.