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The Governor of Kogi State has ordered the emergency evacuation of all students of Kogi origin from the University of Jos, as a wave of communal violence in Plateau State enters its second week.

Governor Ahmed Ododo issued the directive following the suspension of academic activities and a formal order for students to vacate campus hostels. The move marks a significant escalation in the regional response to the “Jos Crisis,” which has seen dozens of civilians killed in coordinated night-time raids.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Governor’s office confirmed that a high-level delegation has already arrived in the Plateau State capital to coordinate a “safe and orderly” extraction.

The ‘Proactive’ Extraction

The evacuation is being led by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Youth and Students Matters, Oladele Nihi. Government officials expressed particular concern for students residing in off-campus accommodation, who are considered highly vulnerable to the “sporadic shooting” and arson attacks reported in the Jos North and Wase local government areas.

“Students are particularly vulnerable during such crises,” the statement read, adding that “arrangements have been concluded to transport the students back home under adequate security.”

Analysis: The ‘Safety First’ Precedent

Governor Ododo’s decision reflects a growing trend in Nigerian politics where state governors take unilateral action to protect their “indigenes” trapped in conflict zones elsewhere in the federation.

By deploying a dedicated team to the Etihad-like “front lines” of the university campus, Kogi is signaling that it no longer relies solely on the host state’s security apparatus. While Governor Ododo praised President Bola Tinubu’s recent deployment of 850 specialized counter-terrorism troops to Jos, the evacuation suggests that trust in local stability remains fragile.

For the University of Jos—an institution with a long history of being caught in the crossfire of the city’s ethno-religious tensions—this mass departure is a familiar, if painful, ritual.

A Test for ‘Operation Enduring Peace’

The evacuation comes despite the Nigerian military’s claims of “remarkable success” in neutralizing threats and arresting “impostor” soldiers in tactical uniforms.

As hundreds of Kogi students prepare to board guarded convoys back to Lokoja, the focus shifts to whether other states will follow suit. If more states begin to withdraw their citizens, it could lead to a “hollowing out” of one of Nigeria’s most prestigious northern universities, further isolating Plateau State as it struggles to restore a permanent peace.