14 Killed As Unijos Students Clash With Hausa Youths In Jos

The Friday clash between some Hausa youths and students of Village Hostel, University of Jos, degenerated on Saturday resulting in the deaths of 14 people; at least four of them were students.  Over 20 houses were set ablaze in the latest outburst of violence. 

Two filling stations close to the hostel were burnt and some residential houses especially at Angwa Galadima in Faringada were set on fire. The shooting of students by men of the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crises was said to have led to the escalation of the students’ anger.

The violence that followed the students’ protest led to a breakdown of law and order in Faringada, Zaria Road and Bauchi Road leading to the death of at least 10 people, with many others injured. Houses were also set ablaze in the area.

According to Vice Chancellor of University of Jos Prof. Sonni Tyoden who spoke with The Nation on the incident, “The problem started when some Hausa youths going for a burial at a grave yard situated directly behind the Village hostels stabbed two students of the hostels with knife.

“The stabbing of the students was what provoked them into protesting the attack. But in the process, 14 students were shot and are already receiving treatment at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) as a result of the gun shots.

“I can confirm that 14 students were shot but I can’t confirm if they were shot by soldiers or by the Hausas that attacked them. I’m expecting a full report of the situation from the university security by Monday for me to know how the students were shot”

However, president National Association of Plateau State Students (NAPSS) Seth Mwansat said two of the students receiving treatment at BUTH died afterward.

The vice chancellor said, “Academic activities of the school have to be temporarily suspended as a result until Monday when I receive a full report of the incident which will determine if we should close the school or not, but for now there is no clear report of danger to warrant closing the school completely.”

The commander of the STF Brig. Gen Hassan Umaru said, “It is not true that my men opened fire on the protesting students, I only know of four of them who were shot because they were advancing on my men in their hundreds; so you expect my men to defend themselves in such circumstances.”

Umaru also said, “Most of those students with injuries was as a result of the pandemonium, they were running on their own fell and sustained injuries, such injuries are different from that of gun shot; go to the hospital and you will confirm that all of them are not with gun shot wounds.” He added that five people have been arrested in connection with the violence in Jos, saying some hoodlums took advantage of the students’ protest to set houses on fire. 

According to a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication Gregory Yelong yesterday in Jos, “Government condemns this act of terrorism and unprovoked attack on citizens by hoodlums and miscreants and hereby directs the special task force to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

“Government also notes with serious concern and dismay the use of fire arms on harmless citizens especially women and students by men of the STF.

“Government condoles and sympathizes with the university community, families of the students and citizens who lost their lives in the incident and appeals for calm and restraint.”