A 300-level student of the University of Jos, Abel Gershon, has died after sustaining injuries in the recent attack at Angwan Rukuba in Plateau State.
Gatekeepers News reports that suspected bandits had on March 29 stormed a popular bar in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North LGA, opening fire and killing at least 28 people, while several others were injured.
The incident triggered widespread outrage, prompting the state government to impose a 48-hour curfew in the affected area. The state information commissioner, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, said Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the attack as “barbaric and unprovoked”.
Earlier, in a statement, the university’s deputy registrar for information and public relations, Emmanuel Madugu, had listed Gershon among survivors of the attack alongside another student, Patrick Ishaya, and a staff member, Duguryil Ufialas Daniel.
“It has been confirmed that two students and one staff of the University of Jos are among survivors of the Angwan Rukuba massacre which occurred on Sunday, March 29, 2026,” the statement read at the time.
Madugu also disclosed that the vice-chancellor, Tanko Ishaya, had visited the injured victims at the university’s teaching hospital, where they were said to be responding to treatment.
However, reports of Gershon’s death surfaced on Monday via a post by a campus-focused blogger, later confirmed by the university.
“Yes, the student died last night. I can confirm that to you officially,” Madugu told TheCable, adding that arrangements were underway to contact the deceased’s family.
The student union president, Younglan Tongpus, also confirmed the development.
“Yes, it is true. He died on Easter Sunday,” Tongpus said.
“He was one of the victims of last Sunday’s attack at Angwan Rukuba and had been in the ICU at the UNIJOS Teaching Hospital until his death. Joro was a 300-level building student. He lived in Rukuba, about 2km from the university.”
Tongpus added that the university’s dean of student affairs would contact the family, after which burial arrangements would be announced.
He further revealed that another victim of the attack — an elderly man who had also been receiving treatment in the ICU — died on Sunday.
Gershon’s death comes days after Adeyemo Temitope, a 500-level quantity surveying student of the university, was found dead at a hospital under separate circumstances. His body was reportedly deposited at the mortuary by security operatives after he was attacked near the campus.
Following the rising insecurity, the university management ordered the evacuation of students from hostels and suspended examinations scheduled for the week, citing safety concerns.
