The Cross River State Government has evacuated 37 of its indigenes studying at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) following a wave of deadly violence that has gripped the Plateau State capital.

The operation followed distress calls received on April 1, 2026. Students reported an environment of extreme fear, killings, and uncertainty, as communal clashes near the university campus turned the academic area into a “zone of anxiety and survival.”

Upon being briefed on the deteriorating situation, Governor Bassey Otu reportedly issued an immediate directive to mobilise and deploy resources to ensure no Cross Riverian was left behind.

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Joseph-Kelvin Enyam, who led the rescue team, said that the governor did not hesitate to give a firm directive to mobilise, deploy, and ensure the safe evacuation of every Cross River student back home until normalcy is restored.

The rescue team, which included the Senate President of the National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS WW), arrived in Jos on Friday morning after a night’s travel. They were met by the Chief Security Officer of the University of Jos and the Plateau State Security Adviser, Gen. Shipi Gakji (rtd), who provided two fully equipped security vans to escort the evacuation convoy through volatile neighbourhoods.

Describing the scene in Jos, Enyam noted that the streets were deserted and the tension was palpable.

Meanwhile, communities within the Onim Ankiong Clan of Odukpani Local Council Area in Cross River State may be heading for clashes with Fulani herders following allegations that cattle belonging to Fulani herders have repeatedly destroyed crops valued at millions of naira.

Residents of several villages in the clan said the situation, which reportedly intensified in 2023, has led to frequent disputes between farmers and herders, raising fears of an escalation if authorities do not take urgent action.

Speaking on the development, the Village Head of Atan Akani Obio, who doubles as the Clan Secretary of Onimankiong, Deno Enuo Ekpenyong-Inang Itam Ating, alleged that the crisis began after herders resumed grazing activities in the area despite earlier resistance from the community.

However, the leadership of herders in Cross River State has commenced the evacuation of cattle from parts of Odukpani Local Council Area following renewed tensions over alleged destruction of farmlands.

State Secretary of the Herders Association, Usman Abubakar Mai, on Monday, disclosed that the directive for herders to vacate affected communities in Onim Ankiong Clan was issued to prevent further clashes and restore calm.

Mai said the decision followed complaints by farmers over the destruction of crops, noting that the association opted for a peaceful resolution rather than disputing the claims.

He explained that the evacuation is being carried out in phases due to the large number of cattle involved, warning that a simultaneous movement could trigger fresh damage to farms and cause logistical challenges.