GUNMEN SHOOT NOUN BURSAR DEAD IN ZAMFARA
The Bursar of the National Open University of Nigeria, Nasiru Gusau Marafa, has reportedly been shot dead by gunmen in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
The university announced his death in an official statement signed by its Registrar and Secretary to Council, Oladipo Ajayi, on Sunday.
According to the institution, Marafa was reportedly attacked while returning from Gusau, although details surrounding the shooting were not immediately disclosed.
The university expressed shock over his sudden death, describing the incident as a painful loss to the entire NOUN community.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un,” the institution stated while announcing the death of the bursar.
The statement said Marafa died on Sunday, September 6, 2026, describing his passing as sudden and untimely.
The university described the deceased as a dedicated and committed staff member who served the institution meritoriously and occupied several positions of responsibility during his career.
Marafa was appointed Bursar of NOUN in September 2022 and assumed the position with what the university described as a strong sense of duty and commitment to the advancement of the institution.
The management said his death had left the university community mourning the loss of a distinguished colleague, administrator and valued member of the NOUN family.
It extended its condolences to his immediate family, relatives, friends, colleagues and others affected by his death.
The university also said further information concerning his burial arrangements would be communicated once details were made available by the family.
It prayed that Allah would forgive Marafa’s shortcomings, grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus and give his family, friends, colleagues and the wider university community the strength to bear the loss.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain the reaction of the Zamfara State Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Yazid, were unsuccessful, as his telephone line was unreachable when the report was filed.
The incident comes amid previous reports of violent attacks involving students and members of university communities in different parts of the country.
In June, PUNCH Metro reported that armed robbers allegedly shot dead a 100-level student of the Department of Arts and Social Science Education at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
Following the incident, the university management declared a lecture-free day to mourn the student and commiserate with his colleagues and family over the loss.