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A Benue State student has described today as one of the worst days of her life after what was meant to be a safe return from Jos, Plateau State, turned into hours of confusion, long waits, and broken promises.
The student, a member of the Tiv Students CTS group chat, said excitement had built yesterday when messages confirmed that Governor Hyacinth Alia had deployed over 50 buses and 100 security guards to convey Benue students safely home amid rising insecurity in Jos. She and fellow students were thrilled, believing the large convoy would be enough to take everyone back without issues.
However, the situation quickly soured. The student woke up to excited messages from group members like OLAMIDE FELIX and ZEYEANI, only to face delays and uncertainty. Students were instructed to be ready by 6am at the junction. She arrived at exactly 6:20am with others and waited for a full three hours. When the buses finally arrived, only eight showed up instead of the promised 50 or more.
The convoy then took the students to a police barracks in Plateau State, where they wasted over an hour doing nothing. Drivers later received a call to pick up additional students, leaving the group at the barracks confused about how few buses could accommodate everyone. By 2pm, police officers who were supposed to escort them home began complaining about hunger and wasted time. Eventually, a few students were taken, but many, including the writer, were left behind at the park. By 5pm, students who felt safe were told to find their own way home.
The student said she never wanted to leave Jos in the first place but was convinced by her worried father. After the buses departed without her, she started walking, praying for safety, and was eventually helped by some people who took her back to Angwan Rukuba. While relieved to be safe, she expressed deep disappointment over the poor organisation of the evacuation that had initially brought so much hope. The account has sparked reactions among Benue students and residents following the governor’s intervention to protect indigenes studying in Jos.
