UNIJOS Students Protest Poor Health Facilities, Death of Colleagues

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Students if the University of Jos (UNIJOS) yesterday  took to the streets to protest poor health facilities on campus, which they claimed contributed to the tragic death of two of their colleagues.

The protesters, who were mainly students of Dental Surgery, stormed the school gate with placards displaying various inscriptions, and chanting slogans, such as ‘Insufficient Medical Facilities in Clinics  Despite Hike in School Fees.’

Other placards also bear messages like: ‘Justice for our fallen comrades’ and ‘Enough is Enough, Fix Our Health Facilities Now.’

They demanded the reversal of the recent hike in school fees, saying it came without commensurate improvement in the quality of facilities.

The students highlighted the poor state of health services on campus, citing the recent death of two students as tragic consequences of inadequate medical facilities despite school fees hike.

They lamented the lack of essential equipment, medical personnel, and timely emergency response, which they believe could have prevented the loss of their colleagues’ lives.

The students condemned the university’s negligence and called for accountability, demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and urged swift reforms to prevent such tragedies from recurring in the future.

The protest garnered widespread attention as the state social media platforms were flooded with messages of support for the students. Many expressed  outrage over the avoidable loss of life and calling for systemic reforms in higher education institutions.

Deputy Registrar in charge of information unit of the university, Abdullahi Abdullahi could not be reached for a reaction.