Education

Police Arrest UNIJOS Student for Killing, Burying Colleague Inside Room

Published

7 months ago

October 27, 2025

vicky

A tragic incident has shaken the University of Jos community after a student, identified as Peter Mata Mafurai, was allegedly killed and buried in a shallow grave by his colleague, David Nanpon Timmap, at their off-campus residence in Rusau Village, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Reports gathered by PUNCH Metro revealed that Mafurai, aged 22, was a 300-level student of Banking and Finance, while the suspect, Timmap, aged 23, was a 200-level student of Agricultural Science.

The incident came to light after a Facebook user, Happy Londi, posted a video narrating the shocking details of the killing. In the video, the lifeless body of the deceased was seen being placed in an ambulance as medical personnel covered it with a purple cloth.

In another video shared by a user identified as Mc Pee, an eyewitness—believed to be a student of the university—recounted the horrifying scene.
According to him, Mafurai pleaded for his life as the suspect attacked him with a machete.

“Nanpon already cut Peter on his jaw while he was begging for his life. When we intervened, he threatened to machete anyone who came close.
Peter still held him, begging him to stop, but when he tried to escape, he fell, and Nanpon caught up with him and kept hacking him,” the eyewitness narrated.

Security sources later confirmed that the Plateau State Police Command had arrested the suspect following a report from the university’s Chief Security Officer.
A counter-insurgency expert, who shared details of the case on X (formerly Twitter), said the arrest followed a distress call received around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.

“The Divisional Police Officer of Laranto Division led a team of officers to the scene, where the suspect was arrested,” the source disclosed.
“Investigations revealed that the suspect buried the deceased in a shallow grave he had dug inside his room. The body was exhumed and taken to the Bingham University Teaching Hospital morgue for autopsy.”

The police confirmed that the suspect is currently in custody as investigations continue to determine the motive behind the killing.

However, efforts to reach the Plateau State Police Command’s spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, proved unsuccessful, as calls and text messages sent to his phone went unanswered.
Similarly, attempts to contact the University of Jos through its website’s phone and email contacts yielded no response as of press time.

The gruesome murder has once again sparked public concern over rising cases of violent attacks and assaults among youths in tertiary institutions.

In a related development, PUNCH Metro had earlier reported the discovery of a corpse near the gate of Township Primary School in the Tafawa Balewa community, Jos North, in September — an incident that also raised questions about growing insecurity in the area.

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Education

Tinubu Urges Inclusive Policies, Active Child Participation at 2026 Children’s Day Celebration

Published

3 days ago

May 26, 2026

Preport

Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on governments at all levels, families and communities to move beyond symbolic gestures and build a society where children are genuinely listened to and actively involved in decisions affecting their lives.

The President made the call during the 2026 National Children’s Day celebration held at Eagle Square in Abuja.

Represented by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Tinubu told pupils and students from primary and secondary schools that their voices, ideas and well-being are central to Nigeria’s future.

According to the President, the assurance that “your opinion matters, your ideas matter, your well-being matters” should not be treated as mere rhetoric but as a guiding principle for democratic renewal and national development.

The event, themed “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child,” focused on the need to ensure that no child is excluded from opportunities because of social status, physical condition or geographical location.

Tinubu stressed that every Nigerian child, whether from rural or urban communities, deserves equal access to quality education, healthcare, nutrition, protection, digital opportunities and a sense of belonging.

The President highlighted several programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving child welfare and development, including the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention–774, Nutrition 774, ANRiN 2.0 and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

He also pointed to investments in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education as well as the Ministry of Education’s NEDI platform as part of efforts to equip children with digital and technological skills for the future.

On child protection, Tinubu noted that although the Child Rights Act has been domesticated across the country, the federal government is currently reviewing both the Act and the National Child Policy to strengthen their effectiveness.

He added that through the 2025 Costed Action Plan, the government is providing financial backing to tackle violence against children, child marriage and female genital mutilation.

The President further encouraged state governments to strengthen the Nigerian Children’s Parliament, describing it as an important platform for nurturing leadership, civic responsibility and democratic participation among children.

Tinubu also advised children to avoid violence, cultism, substance abuse, cybercrime and bullying, warning that such vices destroy destinies and undermine national development.

He urged them to embrace discipline, honesty, patriotism and responsible use of technology.

In her welcome address, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Mariya Mahmoud, represented by the Acting Mandate Secretary of the Women Affairs Secretariat, Hajiya Mukhtar, said the FCT Administration, with support from UNICEF, is strengthening community-based child protection systems, training social workers and improving oversight of orphanages and care homes.

One of the highlights of the event was an address delivered by Jessica Nufi, a student of Government Secondary School, Garki, Abuja, who spoke on behalf of children across the country.

Jessica appealed to the government to make quality education free and accessible, strengthen protection against insecurity and violence, and address early marriage, cultism, drug abuse and environmental hazards.

She lamented that poverty, insecurity and harmful social practices continue to deny many Nigerian children, especially girls, access to education and a safe future.

The student also called for improved healthcare services for children with special needs and safer school and community environments.

She urged leaders to build a Nigeria free from drugs, cultism and environmental dangers — a country the younger generation could proudly inherit.

Ending her speech with a pledge on behalf of Nigerian children, Jessica promised that children would continue to obey their parents and teachers, study hard, reject harmful behaviours and grow into responsible leaders if adults fulfilled their responsibilities toward them.

Her remarks received applause from children, parents and dignitaries at the event.

Education

FG Partners with Coursera to Fund 36,000 Youth Tech Licences

Published

6 days ago

May 23, 2026

Lama Godoz

The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a massive digital empowerment drive by securing and fully funding 36,000 learning licences across Coursera and Pluralsight.

Unveiled as part of the newly established Digital Training Academy (DTA), this landmark initiative aims to eliminate financial barriers and equip young Nigerians with globally competitive tech skills.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, formalised and signed the strategic partnership on the sidelines of the Education World Forum (EWF) in London. Operating under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the DTA is being hailed as one of the largest government-funded investments in digital education in Nigeria’s history.

Addressing the High-Demand Tech Gap

The first year of the programme targets core fields shaping the future global workforce. Beneficiaries will undergo rigorous training to earn certifications highly valued by local and international employers in; Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Data Science, Cloud Computing, and Software Engineering.

“Digital competency is no longer optional. It is foundational,” Dr. Alausa stated via an official release. He added that the administration is focused on building a generation of young Nigerians capable of leading and thriving within a rapidly evolving digital economy.

The Hybrid Implementation Strategy

Recognising that access to online tools is only half the battle, the Federal Ministry of Education has structured a hybrid model to ensure high completion rates:

1. Geographical Inclusion: The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) will leverage its vast nationwide network of study centres to ensure equitable slot distribution across all geopolitical zones.

2. On-the-Ground Mentorship: Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) will provide technical facilitators, industry-focused expertise, and accountability structures to guide learners through their courses.

Why This Matters: The Economic Stakes

Nigeria’s youth demographic is expanding rapidly, yet a substantial digital skills gap persists. Economic analysts estimate that the lack of formal digital education among local graduates costs the national economy billions of dollars in lost potential productivity annually.

By partnering directly with elite, multinational platforms like Coursera and Pluralsight, the government is bypassing traditional infrastructure constraints. This model gives Nigerian youth direct access to the exact same training resources utilized by top tech professionals across the US, Europe, and Asia.