JOS, Nigeria — The University of Jos (UNIJOS), located in the capital of Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria, has officially confirmed the deaths of two students following a recent wave of violence in the region. Three other members of the institution, including two students and a staff member, sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical care.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Tanko Ishaya disclosed these details on Thursday, April 9, 2026, during a media briefing in Jos. The deceased were identified as Abel Joro Gershon, a 300-level student in the Building Department, and Adeyomo Oluwafemi Temitope, a 500-level Quantity Surveying student. Gershon was shot in the stomach during an attack in the Angwan Rukuba area and passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). Temitope was reportedly killed by hoodlums on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, while outside the campus along Bauchi Road.
Okay News reports that the violence has claimed the lives of more than 30 people in the Angwan Rukuba community alone. In response to the unrest, the Plateau State Government, led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang, previously imposed a 48-hour curfew in the Jos North Local Government Area. Despite these security challenges, Professor Ishaya stated there are no plans to relocate the university, emphasizing that the institution is working closely with security operatives to ensure the safety of the academic community.
Among the injured are Ishaya Patrick, a 300-level Geography and Planning student; Longji Molshap Wumnokol, a 300-level Geology student; and Duguryil Ufialas Daniel, a staff member of the Directorate of Student Affairs. All three are currently receiving treatment for gunshot wounds at JUTH and Ola Hospital.
The university management had rescheduled first-semester examinations originally slated for late March and early April due to the security breach. Academic activities resumed on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, with examinations set to continue on Monday, April 13, 2026. The Vice-Chancellor clarified that the university was never closed and expressed gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Sahibu, and other security leaders for prioritizing the institution’s safety.
