The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Tanko Ishaya, has confirmed the identities of two students who lost their lives during the recent outbreak of violence in Jos, Plateau State.
The deceased were identified as Abel Gershon, a 300-level student in the Building Department, and Adeyomo Temitope, a 500-level student of Quantity Surveying. Their deaths were linked to separate incidents that occurred during the unrest in the state capital.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday in Jos, the vice-chancellor disclosed that, in addition to the two fatalities, four other students and one staff member sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
Providing further details, he said, “Abel Gershon was shot in his stomach on March 29 and was at the Intensive Care Unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), unfortunately, he died on Sunday, April 5.
“Adeyomo Temitope left the campus alone on April 1 and found himself in violence area of 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 the incident; four students and one staff member,” he said.
Ishaya expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased and noted that those currently hospitalised are responding to treatment.
He also reaffirmed that the university’s academic calendar remains on track, stressing that the April 13 resumption date for students is sacrosanct. According to him, additional security measures have been implemented within the university and surrounding communities to ensure the safety of students and staff.
The vice-chancellor maintained that the institution itself has remained secure throughout the crisis, noting that none of its campuses have been directly attacked since the violence began in Plateau State.
He appealed to parents and guardians to encourage their wards to return to campus, so they can complete their first-semester examinations and proceed with the next academic session.
The violence that led to the deaths followed an attack on the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area on March 29, where several people were killed and others injured. The area is known to accommodate a large number of university staff and students.
The incident prompted the state government to impose a 48-hour curfew in a bid to restore order. However, fresh violence reportedly erupted in other areas after the curfew was relaxed on April 1.
