The Benue State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Usman, in connection with the killing of a Professor of History at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM)—formerly Benue State University (BSU)—Prof. Gabriel Nyityo, and his younger brother, John Nyityo.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, noting that officers attached to the ‘D’ Division in Makurdi responded to a distress call along the Adaka axis, where they discovered the bodies of the victims.
The deceased were identified as Prof. Gabriel Saawua Nyityo, 58, and his 19-year-old brother, John Nyityo. Police said both men were allegedly shot dead by unidentified gunmen.
Edet stated that investigations led to the arrest of Abdullahi Usman, 23, from Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects linked to the crime.
“Officers of ‘D’ Division responded to a distress call along the Adaka axis and, on arrival, found the bodies of Prof. Gabriel Saawua Nyityo, 58, and his younger brother, John Nyityo, 19, who were killed by unknown gunmen,” the statement said.
“The suspect, Abdullahi Usman, 23, of Awe, Nasarawa State, has been arrested in connection with the crime. Investigation is ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects.”
Earlier reports indicated that Prof. Nyityo, a senior lecturer in the Department of History at MOAUM, was attacked at his residence in the Adaka area, behind the Makurdi Industrial Layout, in the early hours of Wednesday.
Security sources said the assailants invaded the residence, killed the professor and his younger brother, and fled the scene. The motive for the attack is yet to be determined, as investigations continue.