Saturday 8th January is another black day for students of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) when the news of two students killed in a recent attack was broke. Musliudeen Adebayo reports that over 70 percent of the students have resumed from the break but academic and non academic activities are yet to commence because of tension, fear and frustration on the Plateau.
Academic and non academic activities are yet to commence fully at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) since the Christmas and the new year break. Survey of the available number of students had it that over 70 percent of the students have resumed hoping that the atmosphere will allow then to commence lectures in the first week of January. But they are yet to resume, this is no thank to the recent attack on some villages and areas such as Bukuru, Riyom in the Plateau and the killing of two students of the institution on their way home on Saturday 8th January this year.
Investigation revealed that it has remain a tragedy for the students and staff of the institution either those in the campus and those who resides in areas such as Bauchi road, Yantrailer, Gada- Biu, Faringada, Rikkos, Tundun-Wada, Shagari corner, Katako , Katako junction often face untold hardship whenever there is a crisis on plateau.
It is also worrisome that directly and indirectly they have continued to form large casualties. No fewer than five students were killed during the November 2008 crisis. Equally more than six (6) students were among hundred of those killed during the January 2010 crisis while property ranging from laptops, text books, note books, mattresses, food items, cloths, certificates, and other valuables worth millions of naira are yet to be recover by these innocent souls and the unquantifiable loss such as psychological trauma, fear, postponement of the examinations and resumption has continue to be their gains simply they are students of UNIJOS.
Both the authorities and the students have vowed to employ means reducing the casualties. This was demonstrated on Monday 10th 2011 by the authorities during an emergency “security and welfare meeting” held at the Bauchi road main campus.
This was followed by the students and the management meeting held at the Multipurpose Hall Bauch road where the resolutions of the management’s meeting was read to thir ears. It was presided over by the institution’s eye Prof. Sonni Tyoden with the attendance of other principal officers including deans of all faculties, security agents and the students.
Part of the resolutions was that: “No commercial motor cycle popularly know as “going” and cabs will hence forte not to be allow to go beyond the Naraguta gate . This means that students both in the Naraguta hostel about one kilometer to the gate and their counterparts in the Abuja hostel or permanent site about two kilometers to the gate had to trek for lectures.
“That all students should be going with their identity cards for identification, they should be going in group and be mindful of where they go. “That female students should avoid carry big bags, that there will be check points, and students should always surrender themselves to the security agents for checking”.
“That all arrangement has been perfected that the lectures earlier slated to commence first week of January will commence on Monday January 17th and the first semester examinations will commence on February 7th as slated”.
The meetings according to a source was in connection with the recent attacks and how to reduce students casualties, two students of the institution one a 200 level student of medicine and the other in 200 level education on their way were killed on Saturday, this and others necessitated the emergency meetings he source added.
Female students mostly in Abuja hostel in block D an E are going through hell. According to our female correspondent .There has been a total black out in the hostel for over one month. We have to charge our phones and boil our water as the cold weather is becoming unfavorable. They appealed to the power holding company of Nigeria PHCN and the concern authorities to come to their aid.
The newly sworned in SUG president Aluta Nantok in 400 level law in one of his addresses appealed to the students as he told the female that though he just came to power his cabinet will soon bring succor to their problems. He promised to liase with appropriate authorities in ensuring adequate water supply, electricity and their security. He told them to be mindful of where they go and always go in group.
As at the time of filling in this report thigh there is optimistic that the school will commence lectures on Monday 17th, there is high possibility that hungry may continue to bit residents of Abuja and Naraguta hostels as shops owners in Abuja hostel have ceased to open. Those in Abuja had it worse where only one shop Bulama has continued to open. Only the brave ones who could manage to go to Farin Gada and terminus market could do so in fear to buy food items.
