Lagos State government and the National Union of Lagos State Students (NULASS) evacuated Lagosian students in the University of Jos amid ethnic crisis.

According to NULASS, about 70 of Lagos residents students studying at the University of Jos in Plateau State arrived in Lagos on Friday following recent killings in the state. 

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had ordered the evacuation of the Lagos State indigenous and residents studying at the University of Jos, Plateau State following recent killings of over 23 persons by alleged invading Fulani herdsmen.

According to the NULASS president, Hon. Shasanya Akinola the student arrived in Lagos at 2:00 PM and the students were received at the Folarin Coker Building Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, by Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Barrister Tokunbo Wahab and Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Student Matters, Mr Omotayo Sanyaolu on behalf of the state Governor, Mr Bababjide Sanwo-Olu.

The students applauded the S.S.As' and the entire NULASS executives for ensuring their safe arrival in Lagos.

PUNCH reported that tension rises in Jos after herdsmen attack leading to the death of 23 Muslims, indigenes of Info State who were travelling through Plateau State capital from Bauchi after attending a Muslim function.

The fear of reprisal attack has been a major concern of most state governments hence, the evacuation of their indigenes from troubled areas.

Governor Sanwo Olu dispatched a team, led by the Wahad, Sanyaolu and Akinola accompanied by the armed security personnel to the University of Jos, Plateau State for the safe return of students of Lagos Origin and residents who were stranded as a result of the violence and subsequent closure of the institution.

The Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong had imposed a dusk-down curfew to curtailed the violence which eventually continued with the killings of some students of the University of Jos. The management of the University, however, suspended academy activities and advised students to vacate hostels to return to their respective homes.

It was gathered that 70 students both males and females make up the first batch of the evacuees while over 80 were said to still be trapped in Jos.

The Representatives of the Students, Master Jinadu, thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for prompt evacuation and rescue because they had been experiencing tense situations and sleepless nights since the incident.

He, therefore, urged the state government not to relent on its efforts to rescue over 80 other students who were still stranded in the University of Jos, “as they have been calling them asking for when the rescue team is coming back for their evacuation. Please send more rescue teams to evacuate them on time.”

Students recount experiences as seen in the video
Master A. Biodun, a 300 level student at, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Unijos, narrated: “I want to thank the state government for evacuating the indigenous students in Jos very swiftly.

“My experience as a student in the crisis in Jos has been excruciating, traumatizing. Some of the students had sleepless nights for a very long time, we will be in our hostels and we will be hearing gunshots and people screaming, and we are very close by. We would switch off our lights and lay on the floor.

“We were scared, but when we heard that the Lagos State Government was sending relief and evacuation bus to come and pick us, we were happy and hoping they would come very early because it wasn’t a nice experience. The bus came at the nick of time.

“We are grateful to God that we have been moved to Lagos safely and we are really thankful to the Lagos State Governor.”

Another student, Miss Dolapo Adejumoke, Department of Psychology, stated: “Presently, the situation of things in Jos right now, majorly is affecting the students in the university, because of the way things are going and the whole crisis, I think people in the state are used to it, but students coming from different places, they are the main victims, and one of the reason is because the university is situated at the centre of the war zone.

“For the past two weeks now, I have not being able to sleep and think well, I have being doing things scattered, we can’t sleep with rest of mind at night because it’s like the gunshots are in front of our doors, really traumatizing. We can’t go out to get food because we have been on curfew for days now.

“For the first time in my life, I saw dead bodies lying on the road. I beg the government to go back to the round table and improve the security of the community where the students reside and also sit with the Fulani, the Hausas and the student union and discuss the way out.’

“I think the curfew is not the solution, the plateau state government should come back to the round table and go back to the source and solve it, instead of allowing it to affect the students, aside from people in deep villages, students are the victims.”

Speaking with the students, Omotoso applauded the Lagos State government for swift intervention and the evacuation of the students also advised the student to duly observe all COVID19 protocols and get vaccinated. He also added that they should pray for peace to be restored to Jos to enable them to return to their studies.

“Also, you should not loose touch with your studies. See yourselves as special people. Don’t see this as a holiday. The state government has made adequate welfare packages for your return to your families safe and sound. And pray for peace to return to Jos so that you can return for your studies.”

Meanwhile, NULASS president, Shansaya Akinola give "special thanks and regards to the Special Adviser to Lagos State Executive Governor, Barrister Tokunbo Wahab,  Senior Adviser on Student Matters to the Governor, Mr Omotayo Sanyaolu for their Swift Response when contacted." 

And also concluded that "the safety of Lagos Indigenes across the federation is part of the key responsibility of NULASS."

See video below