Lagos, Delta, Adamawa, Four Other States Evacuate 1,630 Students From UNIJOS

• Over Plateau attack

BY BONNY AMADI

Not fewer than seven state governments have evacuated at least 1,630 students from the University of Jos (UNIJOS) following escalating security concerns in Plateau state.

On March 29, suspected bandits struck a popular bar in Angwan Rukuba, Jos north LGA, shooting sporadically, with at least 28 people confirmed dead and several left injured afterwards.

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

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

Due to its proximity to the affected community, the management of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) sus- pended all examinations scheduled for the week, rescheduling them until after the Easter celebration.

The university also ordered immediate evacuation of students from its hostels on Wednesday as tension heightened in the state.

Following the directive, about seven state governments have evacuated their indigenes from the university over the past five days. On Monday, the Delta state government announced the evacuation of 34 indigenes of the state over security concerns.

According to Sunday Onoriode, the state director of protocol, the evacuation became necessary following the closure of the university by its management. On Sunday, the Lagos state government also said it had evacuated over 230 students citing the worsening security situation.

In a statement, Mamud Hassan, director of public affairs at the state ministry of tertiary education, said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu deployed a convoy of buses with security escorts to facilitate the safe return of affected students to Lagos.

On Saturday, Adamawa state also evacuated about 120 indigenes from the university. Humwashi Wonosikou, chief press secretary to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, said the evacuation was conducted under heavy security.

In a statement on Saturday, Joseph-Kelvin Enyam, special assistant on student affairs to the Cross River governor, said the state government evacuated 37 students from UNIJOS.

On Friday, Benue state government also said it had evacuated 600 indigenes from the university over security concerns.

In a statement, Tersoo Kula, chief press secretary to the state governor, quoted Hyacinth Alia as saying, “This decision became necessary as it concerns the lives and welfare of our people, especially the future leaders studying outside the state”.

That same day, Bauchi state government, according to Hadiza Kango, commissioner for higher education and regional integration, also evacuated 64 students from the university.

In a statement, Kango said the intervention followed a distress call from the president of the National Union of Bauchi State Students, Mohammed Suleiman, who alerted authorities that the students were trapped in their hostels due to the unrest.