Benue and Bauchi state governments have evacuated 664 students of the University of Jos in Plateau State who are indigenes of the two states.
The evacuation followed the attack by terrorists on residents of the Angwan Rukuba community on Palm Sunday, which left over 24 persons dead.
Dozens were also injured when the gang of armed men stormed Agwan Rukuba in Jos North and unleashed mayhem on the people.
The management of the University of Jos, had after the attack, postponed the first semester examination and approved the immediate evacuation of all students from the hostels and other areas, as from Thursday, April 2, 2026.
While the Benue State Government had evacuated 600 students from Unijos, who are indigenes of the state, its counterpart had so far temporarily pulled out 64 students of Bauchi origin from UNIJOS
The Benue government said the evacuation followed the approval by the management of the institution as a result of the Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba where about many people were killed.
A statement issued on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Kula Tersoo, indicated that the pulling out of Benue indigenes studying at the UNIJOS began on Thursday.
The statement read partly, “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.”
Alia, however, assured the people of the state that he would continue to prioritise their security and welfare.
He also stated that he was in talks with his counterpart from Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, adding that the government was working tirelessly to bring the attackers to book, and also ensure normalcy returns.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Higher Education and Regional Integration, Hadiza Kango, said the intervention by the government 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.
She said, “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.”
Confirming their safe return, Kango stated that government officials remained on the ground to ensure the students’ safe arrival before handing them over to their parents and guardians.
She commended the state governor for prioritising the safety of citizens, noting that the evacuation might be the first of its kind involving University of Jos students during a major crisis in Plateau State.
“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,” she said.
The commissioner advised the students to remain law-abiding and focused on their education, assuring them of continued government support.
Earlier, the NUBASS President, Mohammed Abdulwahab, confirmed that 64 students were successfully evacuated.
He explained that upon receiving distress messages from the affected students, he escalated the matter to the Commissioner for Higher Education, the Secretary to the State Government, and the Chief Security Adviser to the Governor.
“With their swift intervention, approval was granted, and buses were provided alongside security personnel to evacuate the students safely back to Bauchi,” he said.
Abdulwahab commended the Bauchi State Government for its responsiveness to student welfare and security concerns.
Kogi orders students evacuation
In a related development, the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has ordered the evacuation of Kogi students at the University of Jos.
In a statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Ismail Isah, the governor explained that the decision was taken as a proactive measure to ensure the safety of Kogi indigenes studying in the state.
“Students are particularly vulnerable during such crises, especially those residing off-campus and in less secure environments, making urgent government intervention necessary,” he noted.
Ododo disclosed that the Special Adviser on Youth and Students Matters, Oladele Nihi, had been deployed alongside a delegation, who have arrived in Jos to coordinate the safe and orderly evacuation of the students.
The governor stated that arrangements had been concluded to transport the students back home under adequate security, in collaboration with relevant agencies.
Ododo commended the swift intervention of President Bola Tinubu and security agencies working to restore calm in Plateau State.
Punch
