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A security personnel at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Edo State has reportedly slapped a female student of the institution for allegedly wearing a short dress on campus.

The incident, METROWATCH gathered, happened at the Ekosodin back gate’ security post of the University, which leads to the popular off-campus students’ community.

In a video seen by METROWATCH, the unidentified student was seen holding tightly to the shirt of the male security officer, while demanding an explanation for his action.

“Why did you slap me?”, the young lady could be heard saying, while colleagues of the security personnel got involved and pleaded that the student release the security officer.

The security staff’s alleged misconduct has sparked outrage on social media, with Netizens who condemned the act, insisting that the officer had no right to slap the student no matter what.

On Instagram, Chuka Elvis said even the University’s Vice Chancellor has no right to slap a student, noting, “He has no right whatsoever to slap her, the school management did not put him in any capacity to handle such matters, even the VC can’t slap her.”

An Alumna of the school, MaryJane noted, “As an alumni (sic) of this great school tha audacity of non-academic staffs (sic) is appalling, they fee (sic) they are the ruler of moral compass while melting down their frustration on students. We all have a share of this kind of disrespect. That man should be fired to lead by example that UNIBEN don’t support nonsense.”

For Ese, “Even if the dress is short, is it in the place of security man to slap her?”

Ihemeje Omobhude wrote, “What is wrong with her dress? She even wore big hoodie on top, that man needs to be arrested.”

Another user, Peace, noted that the dress was indeed short, saying, “But let’s be honest here, that dressing doesn’t suit the environment but that doesn’t give the security man the audacity to slap her.”

Mheenah wrote, “That dress is not short at all but even if it is against the dress code, what is his reason for slapping her? That’s just transfer of aggression.”

For Obianuju, “Even if she wasn’t dressed appropriately, he has no right whatsoever to slap her. What happened to sending her out of the school premises?”

On his part, Adewale simply wrote, “To slap her, that’s pure assault. Where is the SUG?”

Reacting, a legal practitioner and former Attorney-General of the UNIBEN Students’ Union, Barr. Osayuki King, said the security officer had no right to assault the student.

“I don’t know if “indecent dressing” is a wrong-doing by the University bye-law or regulation and I don’t know how “indecent dressing” has been defined by the University or the security man. However, I know that hitting a person without their permission is an offense and the offender can be sued for that without recurse to the issue of “indecent dressing”,” he said.

As at the time of filing this report, the University Management is yet to formally react to the incident. But, the Institution frowns at indecent dressing and has a handbook on ‘Dress Code’ for students.

In Nigeria, assault is unlawful and constitutes an offence unless it is authorised or justified or excused by law. The act contravenes the provisions of sections 265 and 247 of the Penal Code.