The management of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) in Plateau State has ordered the immediate evacuation of students from hostels following heightened tension in the state after a recent suspected bandit attack.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!At least 28 people were killed and several others injured on Sunday in Angwan Rukuba, a community neighbouring the university in Jos North Local Government Area, when gunmen suspected to be bandits launched an attack.
The incident sparked widespread outrage on social media, prompting the Plateau State Government to impose a 48-hour curfew in the affected LGA.
Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the state Commissioner for Information, stated that Governor Caleb Mutfwang “strongly condemned” the attack, describing it as “barbaric and unprovoked.”
Reacting to the development, Emmanuel Madugu, Deputy Registrar (Information and Public Relations) at UNIJOS, confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that two students and a staff member of the university were among those affected by the attack.
As part of precautionary measures, the university management postponed its 120th inaugural lecture, originally scheduled for Tuesday, and relocated the 50th induction ceremony for pharmaceutical students.
In a statement on Wednesday, Madugu said Vice-Chancellor Prof. Tanko Ishaya has directed the immediate evacuation of all students in light of the “general security situation” in Jos.
> “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 read.
He added that the evacuation is being facilitated by the state governor, who has provided transport services to assist with the operation even during curfew hours.
Students residing within Jos and its environs will be evacuated starting from 3 p.m. on Wednesday, while those whose parents live outside the state capital will be moved from 8 a.m. on Thursday. Adequate security arrangements have been put in place to protect the hostels and the university campus.
> “The Vice-Chancellor assures the university community that management is exploring all means within its disposal to ensure that the university is safe,” Madugu said.
“Further relevant updates will be communicated as management directs. In fragile times like these, may our confidence in the LORD be steadfast.”
Earlier, the university had suspended all examinations scheduled for the week, rescheduling them to take place after the Easter celebration due to the rising security concerns in the state.