The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, has confirmed the death of two students following the recent outbreak of violence in parts of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Ishaya disclosed this on Thursday during a press conference in Jos, stating that the incident also left four other students and one staff member injured.
The violence, which erupted on March 29, saw gunmen attack the Angwan Rukuba community—an area populated by many staff and students of the university—resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.
According to the Vice Chancellor, one of the victims, Abel Gershon, a 300-level student of the Department of Building, was shot in the stomach during the attack. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, but later died on April 5.
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He added that the second victim, Adeyomo Temitope, a 500-level student in the Department of Quantity Surveying, was killed on April 1 after leaving the campus and encountering violence along Bauchi Road. The student was reportedly shot and macheted to death by assailants.
“So, we have a total of five members of the university community affected by this incident: four students and one staff member,” Ishaya said.
The Plateau State Government had imposed a 48-hour curfew in response to the unrest. However, reports indicate that the violence spread to other communities after the restriction was lifted on April 1.
Ishaya noted that those currently receiving treatment are responding positively and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.
Despite the tragic development, the Vice Chancellor maintained that the university’s resumption date of April 13 remains unchanged. He assured parents and guardians that security measures have been strengthened within the campus and surrounding communities.
He also emphasised that the university campuses have remained secure and have not been directly attacked since the onset of crises in the state, urging students to return and continue their academic activities.
