Students laud LASG for evacuating colleagues from Plateau

The National Union of Lagos State Students (NULASS) has commended Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, for evacuating its members from the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

Cross section of the first set of Lagos student-evacuees from Jos shortly after their arrival, at the State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. Photo/NAN

The attack was said to have allegedly been carried out by some armed men. The casualties who were said to be mostly from Ondo, were in Bauchi to mark a Muslim celebration.

R-L: Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sanwo-Olu, Mr Gboyega Akosile; representative of the Governor, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso; Permanent Secretary, Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education (OSAE), Mr Kasali Adeniran and Director, Monitoring, OSAE, Funmilola Olajide addressing the first set of Lagos student evacuees from Jos shortly after their arrival, at the State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. Photo/NAN

The violence also included burning of houses and properties of their victims.

Following the mayhem, the institution’s management, had since announced the suspension of academic activities and advised students to vacate their hostel and return to their respective homes, pending when normalcy was restored.

As a result of the development therefore, some state governments had continued to evacuate their indigenes, from the troubled spot.

Mr Akinola, National President of the union in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos, said no fewer than 50 indigenous members of the union, had so far been evacuated from the area, by the state government.

He said that the members returned to the state on Friday, Aug. 27 and were all in good health.

According to him, the students, including a 200 level nursing mother and her three-week old baby arrived Lagos from the university on Friday afternoon, with security personnel provided by the state government.

The president noted that the evacuation was done after the attention of Lagos government was drawn by the union, following the ongoing crisis, attacks and killing in Jos.

“Few days ago, we made a passionate appeal to our governor, Mr Sanwo-Olu, requesting that the indigenous Lagos state students in UNIJOS, be evacuated, because of the crisis in Jos.

“And almost immediately our request got to him, he responded accordingly and did the needful. And as we speak, I am glad that they returned yesterday without any problem.

“On that note, we want to appreciate and thank our amiable and proactive governor, Mr Sanwo-Olu, for yielding to our clamour, by evacuating over 50 students from the University of Jos back to Lagos,” he said.

He added that the evacuation was achieved with the support of NULASS national executives, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, Special Adviser to the governor on Education and Mr Tayo Sanyaolu, Senior Special Assistant to Sanwo-Olu, on Student Matter.

“This is part of our solidarity show, support and collaboration effort with the Lagos State government, in catering for the wellbeing of our dear colleagues across tertiary institutions in Nigeria,” Shasanya told NAN.

Meanwhile, Mr Hassan Abdulsalam, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the union had also assured members of maximum security, particularly in the face of the unpleasant development, adding that solidarity would remain their watchword.

He noted that no member would be allowed to suffer, or be abandoned in the face of any crisis, irrespective of their political or religious affiliations.

“We are all Lagosians and it is our duty to ensure safety of our members schooling in and outside the state. Thank God we have a listening governor in the person of Mr Sanwo-Olu.

“This, he has exhibited, with the evacuation of our members from UNIJOS in the face of the ongoing crisis. it is indeed a remarkable show of his commitment and care.

“I therefore urge us as indigenous members of Lagos state students, to continue to be good ambassadors of the state, be security conscious and abide with the rule of law,” he added.

NAN reports that following the recent crisis in Jos, some states governments, including Kaduna, Oyo, Enugu, Ogun, Abia, Kogi, Benue amongst others, have evacuated their indigenes, including students of UNIJOS.