A 300-level building student at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Abel Gershon, who sustained injuries in the Angwan Rukuba attack in Jos, has finally lost his battle for survival in the ICU..
Recall that on March 29, persons suspected to bandits attacked a well known bar in the community in Jos north LGA, shooting sporadically, with no fewer than 28 persons confirmed dead and many left injured.
The attack generated outrage on social media, prompting the state government to slap a 48-hour curfew in the affected local government.
Information commissioner, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, stated that governor of the state, Caleb Mutfwang, condemned the attack, describing it as “barbaric and unprovoked”.
In a statement last Tuesday,, UNIJOS deputy registrar, information and public relations, Emmanuel Madugu had named Gershon among the two students of the university that survived the attack.
“It has been confirmed that 2 students and one Staff of the University of Jos are among survivors of the Angwan Rukuba massacre which occurred on Sunday 29th March 2026,” the statement reads.
Madugu gave the name of the other student as Patrick Ishaya, 300 level (geography and planning), and while the member of staff was named as Duguryil Ufialas Daniel, a hall officer at the university’s post-graduate hostel.
He said the vice-chancellor of the university, Tanko Ishaya , visited the survivors at the UNIJOS teaching hospital, to know the level of their injuries, adding that they were all responding to treatments.
However, in a post on X on Monday, Unijos Noisemaker, a blogger known for reporting developments within the university, announced Gershon’s death, sharing a video that showed him lying on a hospital bed, connected to medical equipment, with his nose covered by what seemed to be a breathing aid.
“We mourn the loss of another Jossite. Abel Joro Gershon, a 300 level student of the Building Department at UniJos and a victim of the Anguwa Rukuba attack, has sadly passed on after a long battle for his life at JUTH ICU,” the post reads.
Madugu confirmed the development, saying Gershon died on Sunday night at the hospital.
“Yes, the student died last night. I can confirm that to you officially,” he said.
“As soon as I get to the campus, I would issue a statement on it, so we can make necessary plans to reach his family.”
UNIJOS student union president,
Younglan Tongpus, said plans are on to notify the deceased’s family for burial plans.
“Yes, it is true. He died on Easter Sunday,” the student leader told TheCable.
“He was one of the victims of last Sunday’s attack at Angwan Rukuba and had been in the ICU at the UNIJOS teaching hospital until his death. Joro was a 300-level building student. He lived in Rukuba, about 2km from the university.
“The university’s dean of student affairs is expected to contact his family today, after which burial arrangements will be known.”
