Students of the University of Jos have been ordered to evacuate their hostels immediately due to escalating security concerns in Jos, Plateau State. The directive, issued on Wednesday by Vice Chancellor Tanko Ishaya, follows rising tensions in areas surrounding the university after sporadic violence erupted hours after the state government relaxed a 48-hour curfew. In a statement, Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Relations, Emmanuel Madugu, confirmed the evacuation, citing "near chaotic scenarios" close to the campus. "The Vice Chancellor has directed the immediate evacuation of students from the university hostels in view of the general security situation," the statement read.
The Plateau State Government, led by Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, is providing transportation for students, with special clearance for movement during curfew hours. Evacuation began Wednesday afternoon for students based in Jos, with those bound for destinations outside the city scheduled to leave Thursday morning. The university affirmed that adequate security has been deployed to protect the campus and hostels. "Management is exploring all means within its disposal to ensure that the university is safe," the statement added. Parents and students are advised to remain calm and comply with the arrangements as the situation is monitored. The unrest follows a deadly attack in Anguwan Rukuba on Sunday night, after which the curfew was initially imposed.
The Vice Chancellor's evacuation order reveals how fragile security remains in Jos, even after a curfew is lifted. Tanko Ishaya is managing a crisis the state government failed to contain, shifting the burden of safety onto a university. When governors ease curfews before peace is certain, students become the test case for stability. This evacuation wasn't precautionary—it was inevitable.
