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By Jude Owuamanam
It was all tears at the University of Jos community when eight of its students died in a ghastly motor accident.
The incident is more devastating for Christie Gokyo, a journalist and the Plateau State correspondent of Triumph Newspaper who saw the accident scene but didn’t know that her nephew was involved.
Christies was on her way to the University of Jos where she was to attend the pre-convocation press briefing by the school when she ran into the accident scene opposite the ECWA Theological College, along the Jos – Zaria road.
When she saw the state of the vehicle, she rationalised that with the state of the vehicle involved, it would be a miracle for the occupants to come out of the wreckage alive. But unbeknown to her, her younger brother’s son, Angelo Gokyo, the president of university’s social science students, was a victim of that unfortunate incident.
She narrated her experience to this reporter: “When I got to the scene and saw the horrific situation, my immediate conclusion was that with the state of the vehicle, it would only take a miracle for any soul to come out of it alive. I put my phone in silence, not knowing that my relatives had been trying to reach me.”
Meanwhile his father, Mr Augustine Gyang Gokyo, a catechist at a Catholic church, was at the early morning mass. Neither he nor his mother, Dorothy Gyang Gokyo, an officer of the Federal Safety Corps, was aware of the event of the past hours.
Christie said that when she eventually put on her phone, she saw a text by one of her friends, who informed her of the incident.
“My immediate reaction was to ask which Angelo was she talking about. Just then a call came through from one of my siblings, who confirmed my worst fears,” she said.
Indeed as this correspondent attempted to speak with her inside the event hall, the countenance of the an ever vivacious Christie was moody as she looked askance and unusually quirt.
She said: “When reality dawned on me, it was as if my world had collapsed because Angelo is very much loved in the family.”
In a post on her Facebook page, Christie eulogised her nephew. “We received the tragic news of your death with shock, devastated. You are an amazing child with courage, with kindness, with the quiet strength you carried through everything life threw at you. I watched you grow—sometimes fast, sometimes painfully slow—but always forward. You faced challenges with more grace than many twice your age, and you stayed true to yourself. I’m left with shock and devastated by the tragic accident that claimed your life and the lives of other students of the University of Jos on the 11 of December 2025, which left the family in shock.
“Now that you’re gone, that pride lives on—burning bright in the space where our sadness sits. In everything, bad, good, we should thank God for everything. We cannot question God. Your testimonies from your course mates and friends from the university comfort us. As a young leader tomorrow, full of dreams and aspirations, this leaves a wound that will take a long time to heal. But I prayed for God to grant us comfort and strength during this difficult moment. I also pray to God to grant you eternal rest and give you whatever mistake you have made and grant you eternal rest.”
Angelo Gokyo was among the eight students of the university who died in an auto crash on Thursday while returning from a welcome party. Eleven male students were said to be in one of the buses, while the female students were in the other. Angelo was the president of the Faculty of Social Sciences Students Association. Among the deceased was the President of the National Association of Plateau State Students (NAPSS), UNIJOS Chapter, Comrade Datong Maipkop Magnus.
Nandom Sati, a 400-level student of the Department of Criminology and Security Studies, who survived the crash, said that their bus had attempted to overtake another bus carrying female colleagues when it ran into a trailer. Sati, who is currently recuperating at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, said that he would never forget the incident. He thanked God for sparing his life, saying the incident was something he would never forget.
Officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who were the first responders said that the incident happened at about 2 am on Thursday.
Superintendent Route Commander Public Education Officer, SRC Peter Y Longsan, on behalf of the sector commander, FRSC said that the command received a distress call at about 0230 hours, reporting a road traffic crash that occurred opposite Unity Bank Zaria Road, Jos.
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The statement said: “The crash involved two vehicles, a trailer and a bus. Eleven people were on board the bus, and were said to be students of University of Jos.
“On arrival, seven people were suspected to be dead on the spot, as they were eventually certified to be dead by the doctor. Another victim died in the hospital, bringing the total number of the deceased to eight. Three others are currently receiving treatment at the hospital. All victims were males.
“An eye witness testified that the bus was on high speed and engaged in wrongful overtaking, which led to the loss of control and the eventual crash. Meanwhile, a detailed investigation is still on-going.”
Meanwhile sympathy messages have continued to pour in to the families and friends of the deceased students.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Ishaya Tanko, on hearing of the incident, visited the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) to see the deceased and condole with the survivors. He was accompanied by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Charles Owonchei, the Chief Security Officer of the University, Mr Solomon Agama, and other principal officers. They visited the casualty units of both the Plateau State Specialist Hospital and JUTH to assess the condition of the injured students.
The delegation was also at the JUTH Mortuary, where the bodies of the deceased were deposited, before proceeding to the scene of the accident. The VC advised students to exercise caution and prioritise safety while commuting within and outside the campus.
Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, in his condolence message, has said that he received with profound shock the tragic loss of the eight students of the university
In an emotional message signed by his Director of Press Affairs, Gyang Bere, Mutfwang described the passing of the young, vibrant, and promising students as a colossal loss to their families, the University of Jos, the wider student community, Plateau State, and the nation at large. He said the news was devastating and that the government is profoundly grieved by this painful tragedy.
The governor further expressed concern that some of the students sustained varying degrees of injuries from the accident. He prayed for their swift and complete recovery and immediately directed the Commissioner for Health to ensure that all injured students receive prompt and comprehensive medical attention.
Mutfwang also assured the bereaved families of the government’s full support toward giving the deceased students a dignified and befitting burial. He instructed the Commissioner for Youth and Sports and the Special Adviser on Youth Mobilisation to actively liaise with the affected families, student bodies, and the university in preparations for the burial activities.
“On behalf of the government and people of Plateau State, Governor Mutfwang extended his deepest condolences to the families of the departed students, the University of Jos community, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Council, and the entire Plateau student constituency. He prayed that God grant them the strength and comfort to bear this heart-breaking loss,” the statement noted.
The Global President of University of Jos Alumni Association, Gad Peter Shamaki, described the incident as heart-breaking
In his condolence message, he said: “It is with a profoundly heavy heart that I, on behalf of the entire Alumni Association, extend our deepest condolences to the parents, families, relatives, the management of the University of Jos, and indeed all Josites over the tragic accident that claimed the lives of eight Josites who were not only students, but leaders and vision-bearers of our institution.
“This heart-breaking loss has thrown our entire university into deep mourning. Their passing is not just a loss to their families but to the entire University of Jos.
To the bereaved parents and relatives, we share in your pain, and no words can fully express the sorrow we feel with you in this difficult moment. May God grant you comfort, strength, and the fortitude to bear this immeasurable loss.
He prayed that their souls would find peaceful rest in the bosom of the Almighty God.
