Ugar Ukandi Odey, Jos
The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non Academic Staff Union, NASU, have called on the Government to erect a Mobile Police or Military Policing Unit near the University to protect students and other members of the University community from brazen attacks and killings whenever there is sectarian violence in Jos.
The Joint Action Committee said the call has become necessary and urgent because members of the University community, including staff and students have been primed for attack and elimination, noting that some have been attacked and killed and others still missing since the unfortunate event along Rukuba Road, Jos, on Saturday, August 14.
The JAC said this call is necessary because of hindsight and recent experiences, “and in the event of any break down of law and order in future”.
The body also requests that “the abandoned Jos Terminus Market be converted to a security outpost of either the Nigerian Police Force or the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps to serve as rescue points for students and citizens within town in case of any upheavals”.
The JAC has also called on the Plateau State government “to ensure the registration of all commercial vehicles and tricycles within the Jos Metropolis for proper identification in times of security breaches”.
According to the release signed by Comrades Anthony T Joro and Bitrus J Dagwer as SSANU chairman and NASU chairman respectively, the JAC also wants the federal and state governments to urgently consider the construction of a safe passage route linking Farin Gada Round About through Rusau village into the Naraguta campus of the University.
Other demands made by the JAC as part of intervention to save the members of the University community in times of trouble include additional hostels and staff quarters within the University, erect a parameter fence round the University as is done with other Universities in the country.
The body commends the Plateau State government for sealing the premises of AYM Shafa Filing Station over the loss of the life of one of the students.
