MAKURDI — The Benue State Government, under the directive of Governor Hyacinth Alia, has commenced the emergency evacuation of students of Benue origin from the University of Jos (UNIJOS) following a severe breakdown of security in Plateau State.
The intervention involved the dispatch of over 30 luxury buses to the university campus to transport students back to Makurdi. This move follows the suspension of academic activities and the postponement of ongoing examinations by the university management, triggered by the brutal Angwan Rukuba attack and subsequent reprisal killings in the Jos North and Jos South local government areas.
Logistics and State Intervention
State officials confirmed that the evacuation was a proactive measure to ensure the safety of Benue indigenes caught in the crossfire of the escalating communal violence. The students, many of whom had been stranded in their hostels due to the 24-hour curfew imposed on the area, were escorted by a heavy security detail to ensure safe passage across state lines.
The Benue State Commissioner for Education expressed the government’s commitment to the welfare of its students, stating that the administration could not fold its arms while its citizens were exposed to the “barbaric and unacceptable” violence currently ravaging the Plateau.
Concerns Over Safety in Benue
Despite the successful evacuation, the move has sparked a heated debate regarding the safety of the destination. While students are being moved away from the immediate “fire” in Jos, critics and the Nigerian masses have raised pointed questions about whether Benue itself is a safe haven.
Benue State remains a high-risk zone, having recorded over 50 major security incidents in early 2026 alone. Only weeks ago, at least 15 farmers were slaughtered in Apa Local Government Area, while over 30 people were killed in bandit attacks across Kwande in February. The irony of relocating students to a state that is also grappling with “state-sponsored neglect” and rampant insecurity has not been lost on the public.
Public Condemnation of the Tinubu Administration
The mass evacuation has further fueled the fire of condemnation against the President Bola Tinubu administration. Nigerians have slammed the federal government for its perceived inability to secure the North-Central region, forcing state governments to resort to “emergency retreats” rather than addressing the root causes of the bloodshed.
Many citizens have characterized the current situation as a “total collapse of the state,” pointing to the contrast between the massive security deployed for the President’s “fake” visit to Jos and the lack of protection for rural communities and students. On social media, the consensus remains that the administration is more focused on its 2027 political survival than the lives of the people.
Eagerness for International Intervention
In light of this regional instability, the Nigerian masses have overwhelmingly welcomed reports that U.S.-based policy firms are briefing the Trump administration and Congress on the deteriorating situation. There is a visible sense of hope that international “reengineering” of the security architecture is the only way to stop the cycle of violence and ensure a fair and transparent 2027 election.
