Mallam Nasiru Gusau Marafa, Bursar of the National Open University of Nigeria, was reportedly shot dead in Zamfara State on Sunday, September 6, 2026, while returning from Gusau, leaving the university community mourning the sudden loss of a senior administrator.

The National Open University of Nigeria confirmed Marafa’s death in a statement signed by its Registrar and Secretary to Council, Oladipo Adetayo Ajayi.

Also read: Oluremi Tinubu Announced ₦500m for Calabar Fire Victims

The university said the circumstances surrounding the shooting were still unclear, and did not identify the suspected attackers or disclose the exact location where the incident occurred.

“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,” Ajayi said in the statement.

The statement added that, based on information available to the university, Marafa was “reportedly shot while returning from Gusau”.

The killing has cast a sombre mood over NOUN, where Marafa was remembered not simply as the institution’s financial administrator but as a long-serving member of staff who had occupied several positions of responsibility.

Contrary to some initial reports suggesting that Marafa had only recently become Bursar, records from NOUN and multiple independent reports show that he was appointed to the position on September 17, 2022, for a five-year tenure that was expected to run until September 2027.

His death therefore came less than a year before the scheduled end of his tenure.

NOUN described Marafa as a “dedicated and committed staff member” who served the university meritoriously and contributed to its administration in various capacities.

“The entire University community mourns the passing of a distinguished colleague, dedicated administrator and valued member of the NOUN family,” the institution said.

The university extended its condolences to Marafa’s immediate family, relatives, friends and colleagues, while praying for strength for those affected by the loss.

The incident also comes against the wider backdrop of persistent insecurity in Zamfara, where armed attacks and violence have continued to pose a serious challenge to residents and travellers.

However, the available information on Marafa’s killing does not establish who carried out the shooting, whether robbery was involved or whether the attack was connected to any particular armed group.

The university has not publicly provided those details, and reports from Channels Television, Vanguard, PUNCH and TheCable similarly noted the absence of further information about the circumstances of the attack.

NOUN has since announced a Janaza Ga’ib prayer for Marafa on Monday, September 7, at the university’s Jumaat Mosque in Jabi, Abuja, following the 1:30pm Zuhr prayer.

The university said further details concerning the burial would be communicated by the family.

For an institution that has relied on Marafa’s administrative experience for several years, his death represents a profound and unexpected loss.

It also leaves unanswered questions about the circumstances of the shooting, with the details likely to depend on further information from security authorities and the family.