There was tragedy at the University of Jos community on Monday following the death a 200 Level student of Marketing, Mercy Naan and son of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor identified as Shitnaan Maimako.
While sources said the UNIJOS student may have committed suicide following an alleged breakup in her love relationship with her boyfriend, the cause of the death of the Vice Chancellor’s son who was a student of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo in Ogun State was still kept in secret.
But a source close to the family said it may be due to some prohibited substance but refused to give further details because the VC had decided not to speak on it.
When contacted, the spokesperson of UNIJOS, Abdullahi Abdullahi, confirmed to THE PUNCH the death of the VC’s son.
“All I can tell you is that the son of the VC died last (Sunday) night in Jos. I’m not a medical doctor and can’t say what killed him”, he stated.
Already, sympathisers were said to have besieged the house of the UNIJOS VC, Prof. Sebastian Maimako.
The spokesperson of Plateau State Police Command, Matthias Tyopev, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed that the UNIJOS student was found dead in her Room.
“On May 5 2019 at about 1530hrs, the Angwan Rogo Police Division, Plateau State Command, Jos received a distress call from the Security Department, University of Jos to the effect that on the same date at about 15OOhrs, some students of the institution raised alarm over an unusual odour coming out from Room No. 23 (Zion Hostel) in Naraguta, University of Jos.
“After the report, a combined team comprising of the Police, the University Security and the Medical personnel of the University mobilised to the scene of the crime. On arrival, the suspected hostel door was forced open and the motionless body of one Mercy Naan ‘f’ a 23 years old 200 Level student from the Department of Marketing was seen and recovered to the University Clinic.
“She was confirmed dead by the medical doctor on duty at the University Clinic and her corpse has been deposited at the Anatomy Mortuary of the same University for autopsy. Preliminary investigation further revealed that Miss Mercy was reported missing by her parents to the Security Department, University of Jos on May 3 2029. Meanwhile, the detectives of the Plateau State Police Command have since commenced an investigation to unravel the mystery behind the unfortunate death.” He said.
The menace of the cultists had created serious tension in the areas mostly inhabited by Hausa and Fulani as a result of clash between their leaders.
The command had last year arrested one Umar Ibrahim alias “Dangari”, leader of a dreaded cult group known as Yan Sara Suka, who smashed and destroyed over 15 vehicles at Bauchi Road, Nasarawa Gwom and Congo Russia, a community in Jos North Local Government Area of the State.
He was charged to court with 32 of his members over charges of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbances, mischief, and causing hurt and being in possession of dangerous weapons.
The police had said 33 other gang members were remanded in prison custody, after about 95 wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, 120 sachets of Tramadol, 23 long knives and assorted charms were tendered as exhibits.
Tyopev had told THE PUNCH that the cult members who destroyed vehicles have confessed to the crime and are assisting security agencies in their investigation.
He had said, “Following the attack of a criminal gang known as Sarasuka at Bulbula in Congo Russia area of Jos Metropolis, the Police on the Plateau arrested the gang leader, Umar Ibrahim alias “Dangari”.
“After a careful and painstaking investigation, the leader of Sarasuka was charged to court together with thirty-two of his members for the offence of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbances, mischief, and causing hurt and being in possession of dangerous weapons.”
