A senior university lecturer has been handed over to the police after he was allegedly caught in a sting operation arranged by the husband of a married female student who accused him of demanding sex in exchange for approving her academic project.
The lecturer, who is the Head of the Department of History and International Studies at Northwest University Kano and also serves as a visiting lecturer at Mariam Abacha American University of Nigeria, is accused of repeatedly making sexual advances toward the student over a two-year period.
According to reports circulating online, the lecturer allegedly refused to approve the student’s project because she rejected his advances. Frustrated by the prolonged delay in completing her academic programme, the woman reportedly informed her husband about the alleged harassment.
The husband is said to have devised a plan after allegedly obtaining evidence of conversations between the lecturer and the student. Reports claim the lecturer arranged to meet the woman after Maghrib prayers for what he allegedly believed would be a sexual encounter.
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However, upon arriving at the agreed location, he was reportedly confronted by the woman’s husband and several others who had been waiting for him. The lecturer was allegedly assaulted before being handed over to the police for further investigation.
Screenshots of the alleged conversations have since circulated on social media, fueling widespread reactions and renewed discussions about sexual harassment in Nigerian tertiary institutions. However, the authenticity of the chats has not been independently verified.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Northwest University Kano nor Mariam Abacha American University of Nigeria had issued an official statement on the incident. The police have also not publicly disclosed whether any formal charges have been filed against the lecturer.
The incident has reignited calls for universities to strengthen mechanisms for reporting and addressing allegations of sexual harassment, while ensuring that all parties are afforded due process as investigations continue.