UNIJOS shifts post-JAMB test over candidate’s killing

The authorities of the University of Jos have postponed the Post University Matriculation examination following the murder of a 20-year-old candidate in the examination.

It was learnt that the candidate, Stephen Ojukwu, was murdered by yet-to-be identified persons somewhere around the university campus.

This came as youth gangs took over some streets in the Jos metropolis, causing panic among the people.

A family of seven and three others were killed in an overnight attack in parts of Plateau State on Monday.

Although eyewitnesses claimed about four persons were killed on Monday, Media Officer of the Special Task Force, Capt. Charles Ekeocha, said no life was lost.

In Jero in Bukuru, two people were reportedly killed, but the Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Ayeni, said he was not aware of any death.

Stephen’s father, Mr. Anthony Ojukwu, who spoke amid tears, told correspondents that his son left their Audu Tawan Street at about 7.30am for the examination without his mobile telephone as they were instructed not to attend the exam with any communication gadget.

“At about 10am, he called his mother from a call centre complaining that he had expended all the money on him. His mother asked him to come home and take some money, but he told her he would manage. Since there was no phone with him, we could not communicate with him,” he said.

The older Ojukwu said that was the last they heard of him, until some soldiers came to their house late on Monday to tell them of the incident.

At the home of the Ojukwus, sympathizers were seen trooping in and out of the premises.

It was learnt that UNIJOS had postponed the post-UME examination. Steve Otowo, the Deputy Registrar, Information, could not be reached, but a source in the university said the escalation of the crisis had forced a postponement of the examination as the university could not guarantee the security of the candidates.

The postponement, it was further gathered, was necessitated by the fact that Bauchi Road, one of the major routes to the university had been taken over by rival youth gangs.

Meanwhile major streets in Jos were deserted as youths set up barricades along the roads. Some skirmishes were reported along Angwan Soya, opposite the Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos.

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