UNIJOS evacuates students from hostels after Plateau attack

The management of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) in Plateau has ordered the immediate evacuation of students from hostels following the heightened tension trailing the recent suspected bandit attack in the state.

No fewer than 28 people were killed, and several others were injured on Sunday at Angwan Rukuba, a community neighbouring the university in Jos north LGA, after gunmen suspected to be bandits attack the area.

The attack sparked outrage on social media, prompting the state government to impose a 48-hour curfew in the LGA.

Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the state commissioner for information, said Caleb Mutfwang, governor of Plateau, “strongly condemned” the attack, describing it as “barbaric and unprovoked.”

Reacting to the development in a statement on Tuesday, Emmanuel Madugu, deputy registrar (information and public relations) at UNIJOS, said two students and a staff member of the university were among those affected by the attack.

As part of safety measures, the university management postponed its 120th inaugural lecture, which was earlier scheduled for Tuesday and changed the venue of the 50th induction of its pharmaceutical students.

In a statement on Wednesday, Madugu said Tanko Ishaya, vice-chancellor of the university, has ordered immediate evacuation of all students due to the “general security situation” in the capital city.

“In view of the general security situation in Jos, and particularly the near-chaotic scenarios that unfolded today (Wednesday, 1st April 2026) in areas near the university, which heightened tensions and threatened the safety of students in the hostels, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, has directed the immediate evacuation of students of the university from the hostels,” the statement reads.

He said the evacuation is being facilitated by the state governor, who he said has provided transport services to carry out the assignment even within the curfew hours.

Madugu added that students who live within Jos and environs will be evacuated from 3pm on Wednesday, while those whose parents live outside the state capital will be moved as from 8am on Thursday.

According to him, adequate security has been put in place to protect the hostels and university at large.

“The vice-chancellor assures the university community that management is exploring all means within its disposal to ensure that the university is safe,” he said.

“Further relevant updates will be communicated as management directs. In fragile times like these, may our confidence in the LORD be steadfast.”

The university had earlier suspended all examinations scheduled for the week, rescheduling them until after the Easter celebration due to rising security concerns in the state. (The cable)