Plateau unrest: Benue evacuates indigenes from UNIJOS

Following the recent surge in violence in Jos, Plateau State, the Benue State Government has joined several other states in evacuating its indigenes and students from the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

The situation remains fluid as of April 3, 2026. Here is a breakdown of the current developments:

Benue State Evacuation Details
Commencement: Governor Hyacinth Alia ordered the evacuation on Thursday, April 2, 2026, following the escalation of tension in the Plateau State capital.

Scale: Over 600 students of Benue origin have already been successfully moved back home.

Ongoing Efforts: Additional batches of buses were deployed on Friday to retrieve the remaining students and other Benue indigenes who wish to leave the city.

Official Stance: The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kula Tersoo, stated the move was a proactive measure to ensure the safety of students "studying far from home."

Context of the Unrest
The evacuation was triggered by a deadly attack on Palm Sunday (March 29) in the Angwan Rukuba area near the university, which reportedly left at least 28 people dead.

UNIJOS Response: The university management has postponed first-semester examinations and ordered the immediate closure of hostels to prevent students from being caught in cross-border violence.

Curfew & Security: While the Plateau State government had initially imposed and then relaxed a 48-hour curfew, sporadic violence and "near-chaotic scenarios" near the campus prompted the emergency evacuation orders.

Other States and Support
Benue is not alone in this response. Other states, including Bauchi (which evacuated 64 students on Friday), Kogi, Gombe, and Niger, have also coordinated rescue missions for their citizens.

To assist students who do not have immediate state-sponsored transport, the Plateau State Government provided shuttle services to move students from the campus hostels to the Old Airport Roundabout, a safer transit hub within Jos.