The Bursar of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Mallam Nasiru Gusau Marafa, has been killed by suspected bandits while travelling along a major highway in Zamfara State, the police have confirmed.
Marafa was reportedly attacked on Sunday while returning from Gusau, the state capital, in the latest incident to raise concerns over the safety of travellers on highways in the state and other parts of the North-west.
The Zamfara State Police Command said the incident occurred at Magazu Village in Tsafe Local Government Area along the highway.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, who confirmed the incident to LEADERSHIP, said Marafa was travelling in a vehicle with one Nura Marafa when the attackers struck.
According to him, Nura survived the attack but sustained injuries.
“Investigations are ongoing. Our men are also at the deceased’s house assisting the family with funeral arrangements,” Abubakar said.
The university had earlier announced Marafa’s death in a statement issued on Sunday by its Registrar and Secretary to Council, Oladipo Ajayi.
Ajayi said the institution received the news of the bursar’s death with deep regret, describing it as a sudden and untimely loss to the university community.
“The Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of the Governing Council, Management, Senate, Staff and Students of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), regrets to announce the sudden and untimely passing of the University Bursar, Mallam Nasiru Gusau Marafa, which occurred today, Sunday, 6 September 2026,” the statement said.
According to information available to the university, Ajayi added, Marafa was reportedly shot while returning from Gusau.
Calls For Better Protection
The killing has triggered concern among former students of the institution, with some calling for stronger security measures to protect senior university officials and other professionals travelling through areas affected by insecurity.
Two former NOUN students, Abdullahi Muhammad and S.M. Nura, who spoke to LEADERSHIP, said the incident highlighted the vulnerability of senior university administrators and other civilians travelling on highways in insecurity-prone areas.
Muhammad questioned why senior academics and university administrators should not receive greater security protection, given the security arrangements often provided for political office holders.
“If local government chairmen, councillors and even aides to local government chairmen move around with security personnel, why not top academicians?” he asked.
Nura said the incident was another indication of the deteriorating security situation on some roads and urged the authorities to intensify efforts to prevent attacks on motorists.
“It is obvious he was killed by bandits or maybe assassins. The level of insecurity on our roads has become embarrassing, and the government needs to shift from condemning the act to taking the battle to these criminals,” he said.
Marafa’s Five-Year Tenure
Marafa was appointed Bursar of NOUN on 17 September 2022 for a five-year tenure scheduled to end in September 2027.
