Nigerian students, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Joint Campus Council, Lagos State, have called on President Bola Tinubu to constitute a presidential panel of inquiry into the killing of Abel Gershon, a 300-level Building student of the University of Jos who died after being injured in the Palm Sunday attack on Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The group also commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for facilitating the evacuation of Lagos students from the affected areas, reports The PUNCH.
The students’ body made the demand in a statement issued yesterday and signed by its chairman, Ridwan Ajayi.
Gershon was among the students of the university caught up in the attack of March 29, 2026, when gunmen arrived on motorcycles around 8pm, opening fire indiscriminately on residents in a popular gathering spot within the densely populated suburb frequented by university students.
He was initially reported as a survivor but later died at the Intensive Care Unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital.
The University of Jos Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Relations, Emmanuel Madugu, had confirmed that two students, Gershon and Patrick Ishaya, a 300-level Geography and Planning student, as well as a staff member, Duguryil Daniel, survived the initial attack. Gershon subsequently died after a prolonged struggle for survival.
The death toll from the attack has since climbed to 33, as more victims who were receiving treatment in hospital succumbed to their injuries.
NANS Lagos JCC demanded that the proposed panel be mandated to identify perpetrators, ensure their swift prosecution, and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
“We hereby call on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to immediately constitute a Presidential Panel of Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the killing of Abel Gershon and other victims of the Angwan Rukuba attack,” the statement read.
The group described the incident as more than an isolated tragedy. “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,” it said.
The statement further read, “This panel must be mandated to identify the perpetrators, ensure their swift prosecution, and recommend sustainable measures to prevent a recurrence of such senseless violence.”
On the resolve to pursue justice, NANS Lagos JCC said: “NANS Lagos JCC remains resolute in its commitment to pursue justice for our slain colleague through all lawful and democratic means available, as solidarity knows no boundaries, and an injury to one UNIJOS student is an injury to all Nigerian students.”
The group also strongly condemned what it described as the continued failure of security mechanisms to protect lives, saying students “should feel safe within their learning environments and host communities.”
The Chief of Staff to the Plateau State Governor, Jeremiah Satmark, while representing Governor Caleb Mutfwang at a funeral service held at the ECWA Church in Angwan Rukuba, said the state government would stop at nothing to bring those responsible to justice.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, during a visit to the Government House in Jos, also vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, describing the killings as tragic and unacceptable.
He disclosed that the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Umar Nadada, had earlier been deployed to the state to assess the situation and coordinate security operations with other agencies.
Commending Sanwo-Olu for facilitating the evacuation of Lagos students from the affected areas, the group said, “This timely intervention underscores the Governor’s commitment to the welfare and protection of Lagos students, both within and outside the state, and stands as a commendable example of responsible governance in times of crisis.”
The group extended condolences to Gershon’s family, friends, and the University of Jos community, adding: “His death must not be in vain. We demand justice, accountability, and a renewed commitment to the protection of Nigerian students across all regions of the country.”
