Wukari varsity shut over killing of 22

The Federal University, Wukari has been closed down following the disturbances which led to the killing of no fewer than 22 persons in the area.

The crises also led to the imposition of a 24 hour curfew in the town on Monday by the state government.


This was even as no fewer than 32 persons with varying degrees of injuries from the crisis-torn Wukari in Taraba State were yesterday evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, for treatment.

However, the closure of the university was confirmed by the Director of Communications in the institution, Mr. Jerry Amah  in Wukari.

Amah said that the suspension of activities in the university, became imperative following the volatile situation in Wukari and environs which led to the imposition of curfew on the area.

‘’Some of our students and staff are inside Wukari town and they may not be able to come to school because of the curfew.

‘’People who were displaced by the crisis have taken over the university facilities and there is no way we can send them out of this place. It is also not possible for the university to allow the students to mingle with the refugees on campus for security reasons,” he said.

Most of the students who were desperate on how to get vehicles to their various places revealed that they might not return to the school again.

‘’The crisis here is too much and I may not continue with my studies.
“It is always one crisis today or another tomorrow. I am tired of running for my life” one of the students said in an interview yesterday.


Meanwhile, it was also gathered from some of the victims of the crisis in Makurdi, that they were allegedly attacked while in their Church for the Sunday service.

According to Kisani Alad, who sustained bullet wounds on his leg, “we were at the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria, CRCN, around 6:30am on Sunday when some armed Hausa Muslims, attacked us with guns and other dangerous weapons in the church premises.

“Before anybody would understand what was happening, the invaders opened fire and started shooting sporadically at worshippers.”

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“Many must have died as a result of the attack and the resultant stampede but some of us were lucky to have escaped alive with bullet wounds,’’ he said.

Reacting to the development, acting Medical Director of the Makurdi FMC, Dr. Peteru Ihiundu said, “We have 32 patients that were brought in at a time with various degrees of injuries ranging from gun shot wounds, abdominal and head injuries and so on.

“The hospital was alerted that we were expecting 32 injured patients and we effectively mobilized the hospital community who were ready before their arrival. They came in at 4pm and we operated throughout the night.”

Ihiundu who was full of joy that all the patients except one who had neck injury were in stable condition, stated that the hospital had the capacity to handle up to 100 casualties or patients at once even as he urged good spirited individuals to donate blood to the victims.