Panic gripped the permanent site of the University of Jos on Tuesday after the beheaded body of a middle-aged man was discovered on farmland within the university premises.
The deceased, whose identity had not been officially confirmed as of the time of filing, was found with his head severed and missing, triggering fear among students, staff and residents of the institution.
Victim Believed to Be a Local FarmerA 300-level student at the university, Pius Atok, told journalists that the body was found on a farm within the university community on Tuesday morning.
He said preliminary information suggested the victim was neither a student nor a staff member of the institution.
A senior university official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident, saying early findings indicated the deceased was a farmer who regularly cultivated crops on farmland in the area.
The official said investigations had established that the victim was known to residents nearby, as he routinely came to the area to farm, and was believed to have arrived early Tuesday morning as usual.
“Those Responsible Came Specifically to Kill Him”According to the official, the exact circumstances of the attack remain unclear, but its nature suggests the attackers targeted the victim deliberately and made away with his head.
The official said the victim’s relatives had been contacted and that arrangements were underway to evacuate the body. University management has been briefed on the incident and is expected to issue an official statement to the university community and the media.
The Information Directorate is reportedly handling communications on the matter through the institution’s official platforms.
The spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, had not responded to enquiries on the incident as of the time of filing.
