NANS Demands Presidential Probe Into UNIJOS Student’s Murder

JOS — The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Council (JCC), Lagos State, has issued a formal demand to President Bola Tinubu to constitute a Presidential Panel of Inquiry into the tragic killing of Abel Gershon, a 300-level Building student at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

​Gershon succumbed to his injuries at the Intensive Care Unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) following a brutal assault on the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026. The attack, carried out by gunmen on motorcycles, has seen the death toll rise to 33 as more victims succumb to their wounds.

​A Call for Justice and Accountability

​In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Chairman Ridwan Ajayi, the student body emphasized that the death of Gershon is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a broader security crisis.

​”We consider this incident not just an isolated tragedy, but a reflection of the worsening security situation across the country, which demands urgent and decisive action,” the statement read.

​NANS is demanding that the proposed panel be tasked with:

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• ​Identifying the perpetrators responsible for the Angwan Rukuba massacre.
• ​Ensuring swift prosecution of those found culpable.
• ​Recommending sustainable measures to protect students within their host communities.

​Security Response and State Intervention

​The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, recently visited the Plateau State Government House, vowing that the police would “stop at nothing” to bring the attackers to justice. IGP Disu confirmed that Deputy Inspector-General (Operations) Umar Nadada had been deployed to coordinate security efforts, and seven suspects, including an individual impersonating a soldier, have already been apprehended.

​Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented by his Chief of Staff, Jeremiah Satmark, expressed the state’s commitment to ending the cycle of violence, while also enforcing a stricter ban on commercial motorcycles, which were used during the Sunday night raid.

​Commendation for Lagos State

​Amidst the mourning, NANS Lagos JCC extended its appreciation to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The group commended his swift action in facilitating the evacuation of Lagos-indigene students from the volatile areas in Plateau State, describing it as a “commendable example of responsible governance.”

​The University of Jos community continues to mourn Gershon and Patrick Ishaya, another 300-level student who survived the initial onslaught but remains a witness to the carnage. “An injury to one UNIJOS student is an injury to all Nigerian students,” the group declared, vowing to pursue justice through all lawful means.