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Bursar of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Mallam Nasiru Gusau Marafa was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Gusau, Zamfara State capital, on Sunday.

He was shot dead while returning from Gusau and the institution has provided sketchy information.

NOUN Registrar and Secretary to Council, Oladipo Adetayo Ajayi has described Marafa’s death as sudden and untimely.

‘According to information available to the University, Mallam Nasiru Gusau Marafa was reportedly shot while returning from Gusau’ Ajayi submitted in a statement he issued on Sunday.

The university described Marafa as a committed administrator who served the institution in various capacities before rising to the position of Bursar while calling his passing a profound loss and noting that the institution mourns ‘a distinguished colleague, a dedicated administrator and a valued member of the NOUN family’.

‘The entire University community mourns the passing of a distinguished colleague, dedicated administrator and valued member of the NOUN family’ the statement said..

The institution expressed sympathy to Marafa’s immediate family, relatives, friends and colleagues, while praying for strength for them to cope with the loss.

The late Nasiru Marafa was appointed as NOUN’s Bursar in June 2022, and he officially assumed office on September 17, 2022.

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The Niger State Police Command has taken four suspects into custody over the alleged killing of the Village Head of Zhilu in Fuka District, Munya Local Government Area, Bawa Barde, aged 53.

The suspects were identified as Zegi Dogari, 48; Danjuma Galadima, 50; Bashir Umar, 32; and John Doma, 35.

Police said the suspects were arrested between August 25 and 28 following investigations into the killing of the traditional ruler.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the village head was attacked at about 3am on August 23.

The assailants allegedly inflicted serious machete wounds on Barde at his residence.

Abiodun said operatives attached to the Gwada Division were deployed to the scene after the police received a distress call at about 7am.

The officers reportedly found the victim lying in a pool of blood behind his residence.

Barde was immediately taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment but was later confirmed dead.

Police investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly planned the attack following the intervention of the deceased in a dispute involving his cousin, Bashir Umar.

The command said the disagreement reportedly worsened after the village head warned Bashir to allow access to a grazing route passing through his farmland.

Investigators also discovered another alleged source of conflict involving Dogari, described as a herbalist, who was accused of having a relationship with the deceased’s wife.

According to the police, Dogari admitted to the allegation during interrogation and was allegedly directed to pay a N700,000 fine.

The command said the different disputes allegedly resulted in the suspects conspiring to attack the village head inside his residence and macheting him to death.

Police further disclosed that Galadima was the deceased’s brother, while Bashir was his cousin, with the remaining suspects also said to be related to the victim.

The four suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, in Minna for further investigation.

They are expected to be charged to court over alleged culpable homicide after the conclusion of investigations.

Meanwhile, the command also announced the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of a cow allegedly stolen from the Kateregi area of Katcha Local Government Area.

The suspects were identified as Tukur Ado, 25; Musa Ibrahim, 42; and Isah Madaki, 50.

Police said they were arrested on August 25 after surveillance operatives attached to the Kpakungu Division intercepted a red Toyota Corolla transporting a cow along the Bida-Minna Road near Gidan-Kwano.

According to the police spokesperson, the driver allegedly refused to stop when officers attempted to search the vehicle and instead sped away.

The operatives reportedly pursued the vehicle until the suspects were eventually arrested around Talba Estate Road.

The cow was recovered from the Toyota Corolla, which bore registration number AE 889 KGK.

During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to stealing the animal from the Kateregi area of Katcha LGA.

Police said investigations into the matter are still ongoing.

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A 13-year-old boy, Mubarak Mohd, has died after accidentally shooting himself with a loaded dane gun in Udubo village, Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The incident occurred on Saturday, September 5, at about 4:30pm, according to the Bauchi State Police Command.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.

Habib said the gun belonged to a 35-year-old hunter, Suleiman Hamza, who had returned from a hunting trip and left the loaded weapon unsecured in his room before stepping out.

According to him, Mubarak entered the room and pulled the trigger, causing the gun to discharge and inflict fatal injuries on him.

He said detectives from the Gamawa Divisional Police Headquarters rushed to the scene and evacuated the boy to the General Hospital, Gamawa, where a medical doctor confirmed him dead.

Habib added that after a post-mortem examination and documentation, the deceased’s remains were released to his family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.

The police spokesperson said Hamza had been arrested and, following preliminary investigation, the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the command said it had foiled an armed robbery along the Kajala-Kere road on the outskirts of Burra and recovered two Bajaj motorcycles stolen by the suspects.

Habib said the incident occurred at about 9:45pm on Saturday when a gang armed with cutlasses and sticks blocked the road and intercepted Ado and three other male residents of Kere village.

He said the suspects dispossessed the victims of two Bajaj motorcycles, two Android phones and a power bank.

According to him, upon receiving the report, a combined team of police officers from the Burra Division and local vigilantes was mobilised to the scene.

He said the suspects fled into the surrounding bush on sighting the security operatives, abandoning the stolen motorcycles, which were subsequently recovered.

The police said operatives were continuing to search the area for the fleeing suspects and the remaining stolen items.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended the prompt response of the security personnel that disrupted the robbery.

He also expressed sadness over the death of the teenager, describing it as preventable, and cautioned hunters and licensed firearm owners in the state to handle weapons responsibly and keep them out of the reach of children.

The command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property and urged residents to provide security agencies with timely and credible information.