At least 664 students of the University of Jos have been evacuated by the governments of Benue State and Bauchi State following a deadly attack in Plateau State that left more than 24 people dead and several others injured.
The emergency evacuation followed a Palm Sunday assault by armed men on residents of Angwan Rukuba in Jos North, an incident that triggered widespread tension across the city and forced the university to suspend academic activities and order students out of hostels.
According to officials, over 600 students of Benue origin have already been transported back home, while 64 students from Bauchi State were also safely evacuated after being trapped in their hostels during the unrest.
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Governor, Kula Tersoo, confirmed the action, saying: “Following the recent attack on Angwan Rukuba and surrounding areas, which claimed lives and triggered widespread tension in Jos, Plateau State, Governor Hyacinth Alia, on Thursday, April 2nd, 2026, commenced evacuation of students of Benue origin studying at the University of Jos, back to Benue State.
“The evacuation of the students of Benue indigenes was necessary to safeguard the lives and welfare of the people, especially the future leaders studying far from home.
“Already, over 600 students of Benue origin have been successfully evacuated back home with another batch of buses deployed to Jos, to help evacuate the remaining set of students and other indigenes of the state willing to return home, given the current tension in the capital city.”
The Bauchi State Government said its intervention was prompted by a distress call from students. Commissioner for Higher Education and Regional Integration, Hadiza Kango, explained: “My attention was drawn to the situation by the NUBASS President, Mohammed Suleiman. Immediately he alerted me, I took action, and the government responded swiftly with full support and cooperation to rescue the students.”
She later confirmed that officials remained on ground to ensure safe return and handover of the students, adding: “We don’t need to say much about his concern for the people. When I heard from the students that this might be the first time UNIJOS students were evacuated during such a crisis, I felt proud. The credit goes to our executive governor. It shows how much he cares for every citizen.”
The President of the National Union of Bauchi State Students, Mohammed Abdulwahab, also detailed how the evacuation was coordinated: “With their swift intervention, approval was granted, and buses were provided alongside security personnel to evacuate the students safely back to Bauchi.”
In a related move, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed the evacuation of Kogi indigenes studying in Jos, describing the step as a precautionary measure.
“Students are particularly vulnerable during such crises, especially those residing off-campus and in less secure environments, making urgent government intervention necessary,” he said in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Ismail Isah.
Ododo added that a delegation led by his Special Adviser on Youth and Students Matters, Oladele Nihi, had already arrived in Jos to oversee the process, with arrangements in place to transport students home under security protection. He also commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu and security agencies for their efforts to restore calm in Plateau State.
The evacuations followed a directive by the university management, which postponed first semester examinations and ordered students to vacate hostels from April 2 due to safety concerns arising from the attack.
Meanwhile,
Meanwhile, tragedy has struck the University of Jos community following the discovery of a missing student’s body amid the ongoing security crisis in Plateau State.
Adeyemo Temitope, a 500-level Quantity Surveying student, was found dead days after he was reportedly attacked by unidentified assailants in Jos, further deepening concerns over student safety in the area.
His close friend, Meshak Gimba, a 400-level Psychology student, confirmed the development in a post on X, writing, “Adeyemo Oluwafemi Temitope has now been confirmed dead. He has been found, but not alive.”
Gimba, who had earlier declared Temitope missing and circulated his photograph on social media, said the tragic discovery came after he received a call directing him to the University Teaching Hospital. “We initially thought he went missing, and that was why I posted and circulated his picture on Facebook and included my number in case anyone finds him,” he said. “But we got a call earlier today to come to the hospital, where we saw his corpse.”
According to him, hospital officials disclosed that the student’s body had been deposited at the mortuary by local security operatives on Wednesday. “The officials at the hospital said the security operatives told them he was coming from the market that morning when unknown persons attacked and killed him at Bauchi junction, close to the hostel,” Gimba added.
The university authorities have since verified the incident. The Chief Security Officer, Agama Solomon, confirmed that management visited the hospital to ascertain the situation. “On Wednesday, he was declared missing. This morning, we were told that his corpse is at the university teaching hospital,” he said. “So, myself, the vice-chancellor, dean of student affairs, and other staff went to the hospital to find out whether truly that was his corpse. And we discovered that indeed, it was his corpse. His close friend identified him, saying he is the one.”
Solomon added that the Vice-Chancellor, Tanko Ishaya, has initiated contact with the deceased’s family, who are expected to arrive soon for formal identification and burial arrangements.
