Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a dramatic and rapidly evolving security crisis centred on Jos, the capital of Plateau State, Nigeria, the government of Benue State has initiated a large-scale evacuation of its citizens studying at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), as violence linked to a deadly Palm Sunday attack continues to unsettle the region and threaten the safety of students, residents and local communities. The situation has drawn national attention, eliciting high-level government interventions and raising fresh questions about security stability in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
The unrest began in earnest on March 29, 2026, when unknown gunmen stormed the Angwan Rukuba district in Jos North Local Government Area, opening fire in a busy residential area and killing at least 28 people, according to official reports. In the immediate aftermath, scores of residents were wounded and rushed to the Jos University Teaching Hospital for treatment, while widespread panic spread through nearby neighbourhoods. The attack ignited fear among the city’s diverse population and triggered an urgent response from state and federal authorities.
In response to the mounting insecurity, UNIJOS authorities issued an unprecedented directive on April 1, 2026, ordering the immediate evacuation of students from campus hostels. The order came after what the university described as “near chaotic scenarios” in neighbourhoods close to the campus heightened concerns about the welfare of students and staff. The evacuation was structured in phases: students whose families are based within Jos and its environs were instructed to leave their hostels by Wednesday afternoon, while those whose parents or guardians reside outside the city or state were scheduled for departure on Thursday morning. The university management stated that the exercise was being supported logistically and with transport by the Plateau State Government, and emphasised that security personnel had been deployed to protect the institution’s facilities as students departed.
Amid the heightened alarm, the Benue State Government, led by Governor Hyacinth Alia, moved swiftly to safeguard its citizens studying at UNIJOS. On April 2 and 3, 2026, Benue authorities began evacuating students of Benue origin, transporting them out of Jos and back to their home state. Official statements indicate that more than 600 Benue students had been evacuated by Thursday, with additional buses deployed to bring home others who wished to leave. The evacuation was described as a protective measure “necessary to safeguard the lives and welfare of the people, especially the future leaders studying far from home.” The governor also affirmed ongoing dialogue with his Plateau State counterpart, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, aimed at addressing the source of the unrest and restoring normalcy.
The unrest in and around Jos has been compounded by the temporary imposition of a 48-hour curfew in parts of the city by Plateau State authorities following the initial attack, in a bid to curb further violence and restore order. Although elements of the curfew were briefly relaxed to allow movement for the evacuation efforts, reports emerged of sporadic clashes and opportunistic attacks in some areas, further fuelling community anxiety. Eyewitness accounts described scenes of fear as residents and students fled vulnerable locations, and traders abandoned shops as tension spiked in several neighbourhoods.
The federal government has also taken notice of the deteriorating security situation. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited Jos shortly after the deadly Palm Sunday attack to assess the situation firsthand, console victims’ families and urge a coordinated response. During his visit, the president pledged federal support to local authorities and instructed senior security officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and Inspector-General of Police, to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible for the violence. He also announced plans for an artificial intelligence-enabled network of more than 5,000 digital surveillance cameras to bolster law enforcement capabilities in Plateau State — a measure intended to improve security monitoring and deter future attacks.
The crisis has reverberated across civil society, with local groups, churches and university associations expressing concern over the potential for further violence and urging comprehensive security interventions. The UNIJOS Alumni Association, for instance, issued statements warning of the threats faced by students, staff and local residents amid the unrest. There have also been calls from community leaders for strengthened patrols, better intelligence sharing and more robust protection of civilian populations.
At the core of the crisis are underlying tensions that have periodically surfaced in parts of Plateau State, where ethnic, religious and economic divisions sometimes fuel cycles of mistrust and sporadic violence. Analysts note that historical grievances and retaliatory attacks between communities have at times escalated into broader confrontations, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas such as those surrounding Jos. In the current situation, the initial attack in Angwan Rukuba appears to have triggered fears of reprisals and copycat violence, contributing to the decision by educational institutions and state governments to act in the interest of public safety.
For students like those from Benue State, the evacuation represents a desperate yet necessary response to protect lives amid an unfolding crisis. Families of returning students have expressed a mixture of relief and concern — relief that their children are now home and out of danger, but also deep anxiety about the broader insecurity that continues to affect parts of central Nigeria.
Efforts remain underway to evacuate the remaining students and other residents who have asked to return to their home states. Both the Benue and Plateau state governments, along with federal security agencies, have reiterated commitments to pursuing justice for victims of the Angwan Rukuba attack, stabilising the situation in Jos and preventing further escalations of violence.
As the unfolding events continue to develop, authorities face the complex challenge of ensuring both immediate safety for vulnerable populations and long-term peace and security in one of Nigeria’s historically sensitive regions. Public assurances of strengthened security measures and intergovernmental cooperation accompany these efforts, but the road to lasting tranquillity remains uncertain as families, students and communities seek normalcy once more.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments