The Benue State Government has started moving students from the University of Jos back to Benue following a deadly attack in Angwan Rukuba and nearby areas of Jos, Plateau State. Governor Hyacinth Alia ordered the evacuation on Thursday, April 2, 2026, citing the worsening security situation and the need to protect Benue indigenes, especially students far from home. More than 600 students have already been evacuated, with additional buses deployed for others who wish to leave. The move comes after the University of Jos suspended first semester exams and directed students to vacate hostels from April 2, 2026.
The university's decision followed a March 29 attack at a busy junction in Jos, where gunmen killed at least 28 people, including students and staff. Sporadic violence erupted in areas near the university, heightening fear among residents. Security has been reinforced, but anxiety remains high. President Bola Tinubu visited Jos on April 2, 2026, meeting bereaved families at a hall near the airport and offering condolences. He promised 5,000 AI-enabled surveillance cameras for Jos and invited community leaders to Abuja for dialogue. His airport-only visit, however, drew criticism for appearing detached, with the Presidency citing scheduling and flight constraints.
Governor Hyacinth Alia's evacuation of Benue students from UNIJOS exposes how state governments are now forced to act as emergency response units amid federal security failures. With over 600 students pulled out of a federal institution, the burden of protecting citizens falls increasingly on state executives, not national agencies. President Tinubu's airport meeting with victims, while symbolic, does little to inspire confidence in a coordinated, on-ground security overhaul. When leaders avoid affected communities, even logistical excuses erode public trust.
