Contrary to speculations making the rounds that the authorities of the University of Jos shut down the institution over the recent security breach in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya, has denied this, while confirming that the university lost two students, with another two students and a staff member sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
Addressing newsmen on Thursday, the Vice-Chancellor explained that since the beginning of the crisis, no breach of peace had been recorded on any of the university’s campuses. He stressed that at no time during the crisis did management direct that the university be closed or that staff and students be totally evacuated.
He stated that on the morning of 1 April 2026, when a fresh crisis broke out, including in areas close to the university, leading to heightened tension and another round of killings, management, in collaboration with the state government and in consultation with security agencies, advised students who wished to leave campus for an extended Easter break to take advantage of the buses provided.
Said he, “Unfortunately, this decision opened a floodgate to states, local governments, and other organizations that began sending buses to convey students of their states out of the university without consulting the university management.” This development, he noted, further heightened fears that the campuses were unsecured.
“While not faulting the intentions of the state governments and other bodies who sent in vehicles to evacuate students from the campuses, I just say that the process became counterproductive to the decision by management.”
Professor Tanko, who disclosed that five members of the university community were affected by the violence along Bauchi Road, expressed sadness over the loss of two students, Adeyemo Oluwa and Femi Temitope and Abel Joro Geshon, noting that the incident devastated the university.
He, however, stated that security on the campuses has been greatly enhanced and emphasised that throughout the period of the crisis, the university was not closed.
According to him, the first semester examinations earlier suspended will resume on Monday, 13 April 2026, adding that management shifted the examinations in consideration of students who travelled.
