Benue: Five suspects arrested over killing of MOAUM lecturer, brother

The Vice Chancellor of Rev Fr Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, MOAUM, Prof. Timothy Terseer Alabar, has revealed that five suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of a university lecturer, Prof. Gabriel Saawuan Nyityo, and his younger brother, John.

Nyityo, a professor of history and former lecturer at Benue State University, BSU, was killed alongside his brother by suspected gunmen at his residence in Makurdi on July 7, 2026.

Alabar made the disclosure in Makurdi while addressing journalists on his first six months in office as vice chancellor.

According to him, information obtained from security agencies showed that the five suspects were from Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The development followed the earlier arrest announced by the Benue State Police Command of a 23-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Usman, who is also from Awe in Nasarawa State, over the incident.

The police had disclosed on July 9 that Usman was being interrogated as operatives intensified efforts to identify and arrest other suspects linked to the killings.

Reacting to the incident, Alabar described Nyityo’s death as a painful loss to the university, particularly the Department of History.

He noted that the deceased was among the founding members of the department and had made significant contributions to research and curriculum development in History and Diplomatic Studies.

The vice chancellor said the institution was following developments in the investigation and would continue to work with security agencies to ensure that everyone found responsible for the killings faces justice.

He further reaffirmed the university’s determination to support initiatives designed to strengthen security and prevent a recurrence of such incidents within the institution and its surrounding communities.