Law student killed as suspected herdsmen invade Unijos hostel

An attempt by suspected herdsmen to break into a major
hostel at the University of Jos has left at least one student dead,
the institution’s students union leader told PREMIUM TIMES on
Monday.

Shedrach Kums, a 300-level law undergraduate, was amongst the
scores of students trying to beat back the attackers at the gate of
Village Hostel when he was fatally shot, student’s union president,
Fwangshak Pantu, told our reporter by telephone Monday
afternoon.

Three others, comprising a student and two villagers near the
school, were critically injured and are receiving treatment at the
hospital, Mr Pantu said.

Police commissioner, Undie Adie, denied knowledge of the attack
to our reporter on Monday afternoon, nearly 24 hours after the
incident was first reported on social media.

Sebastian Maimako, the university vice-chancellor, did not
immediately return requests for comments from PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Pantu demanded an immediate response from both the police and
school authorities against similar incidents in the future while
narrating the students’ ordeal on Sunday afternoon.

“It was around 3:00-4:00 p.m. on Sunday that some Fulani
herdsmen tried to invade the Village Hostel, where male, female and
some physically challenged students live,” Mr Pantu said. “The
students quickly mobilised towards the gates to prevent them from
coming in.”

Mr Pantu said he immediately alerted the school authorities, who
said they would call the police and other security agencies to
prevent killing.

“But two hours after I called, the police or any other security
agencies have not arrived at the scene, but the students have
managed to respond and push the herdsmen back,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we lost Shedrach Kums, even though he was amongst
those who responded to the attack and tried to keep other students
safe.”

The remains of Mr Kums, which had circulated on social media,
were evacuated for burial by his parents on Monday morning, Mr
Pantu told PREMIUM TIMES.

Together with Benue and Taraba, Plateau is amongst the states in
central Nigeria that have witnessed deadly attacks by suspected
herdsmen. Over 2,000 deaths linked to suspected herdsmen have been
recorded across the region this year alone.

While residents have reported relative peace in Benue and Taraba
in recent weeks, following multiple deployments of security forces
by the Nigerian government, attacks on villages in Plateau
continue.

Some of the deaths have come through reprisal attacks between
traditional dwellers and herdsmen seeking to graze their cattle in
the state’s lush vegetation.

On September 28, Governor Samuel Lalong imposed a dusk-to-dawn
curfew across the capital Jos, following repeated clashes that
authorities feared had taken sectarian dimension. The invasion of
the university campus on Sunday was in spite of the security
restrictions.

The Nigerian government blamed large-scale killings on climate
change and mercenaries sponsored by some disgruntled politicians
who oppose President Muhammadu Buhari, although the government
ignored demands to publish evidence establishing the claims.

Mr Pantu acknowledged clashes between villagers and herdsmen, in
which citizens of northern origin are being indiscriminately
targeted, but said he did not expect the violence to be taken into
the school campus.

“On no account should they bring violence to our school, we are
not a part of the ongoing killings,” the top students’ unionist
said. “We call on the police to act immediately and
decisively.”

Mr Adie, while categorically denying ever confirming the attack
as some media outlets have claimed, said he would make further
findings about the attack on the university students.

“Once I am done, I will give you information later,” he said.
“And no, I have not told any media that somebody was killed. I have
not granted interview to any newspaper.”