By Stephen Simon
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has been thrown into mourning following the killing of its Bursar, Mallam Nasiru Gusau Marafa, who was reportedly shot dead in Zamfara State.
Marafa was reportedly killed while returning from Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, according to information released by the university following the incident on Sunday.
The university, in a statement signed by its Registrar and Secretary to Council, Oladipo Ajayi, described the death as sudden and untimely and expressed condolences to the deceased’s family and the wider university community.
Details surrounding the attack remained sketchy as of Monday morning, including the identity of the assailants and their motive.
Marafa’s killing adds to the growing concern over violent attacks and insecurity along roads and communities in Zamfara, one of the states in Nigeria’s North-West that has faced persistent attacks by armed criminal groups.
The incident is also likely to renew concerns about the safety of public officials and other travellers using routes around the state, particularly amid continuing security operations against bandits and kidnappers.
The university community has mourned Marafa as a committed administrator who served NOUN in various capacities before becoming its Bursar.
Security agencies are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing and establish whether the incident was linked to kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry or another form of violent crime.
As of the latest reports, no suspect had been publicly identified in connection with the killing.
The incident once again highlights the human cost of Nigeria’s continuing security challenges and the vulnerability of citizens travelling through areas affected by armed criminal activity.
