The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, has confirmed that two students of the university lost their lives during the recent unrest in parts of Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State.
Ishaya made the announcement on Thursday during a news conference in Jos, the state capital.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that on March 29, gunmen attacked the Angwan Rukuba community, killing several people and injuring many others. Angwan Rukuba is home to many staff and students of the university.
The incident led the state government to impose a 48-hour curfew, but violence reportedly spread to other areas after the curfew ended on April 1.
The Vice Chancellor added that four other students and one staff member were injured and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
He identified the deceased as Abel Gershon, a 300-level student in the Department of Building, and Adeyomo Temitope, a 500-level student in the Department of Quantity Surveying.
“Abel Gershon was shot in the stomach on March 29 and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). Unfortunately, he died on Sunday, April 5,” Ishaya said.
“Adeyomo Temitope left the campus alone on April 1 and encountered violence along Bauchi Road. He was shot and macheted to death by hoodlums.
“So, we have a total of five members of the university community affected by this incident: four students and one staff member,” he added.
The Vice Chancellor expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and stated that those receiving treatment are responding well.
Prof. Ishaya confirmed that the scheduled April 13 resumption date for students remains unchanged, emphasizing that security measures have been strengthened within the university and its surrounding communities.
He assured that the university is safe, noting that none of its campuses have ever been attacked since the onset of crises in Plateau State, and appealed to parents and guardians to ensure that students return to campus to complete the first semester examinations and begin the second semester.
