Four suspected members of the gang allegedly responsible for the killing of Professor Gabriel Nyityo of the Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM), and his younger brother have been arrested, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Timothy Alabar, has disclosed.
Alabar made the disclosure during a press briefing at the university’s Senate Chambers to mark his first six months in office.
Professor Nyityo, a lecturer in the Department of History and one of the founding members of the department, and his younger brother were killed by suspected gunmen on July 7, 2026.
The Vice-Chancellor described the incident as a major loss to the university, saying Nyityo was a researcher and curriculum developer who contributed significantly to the growth of the Department of History and the institution.
He said the professor was “one of the strong pillars” of the department and the university, noting that his death had adversely affected academic activities and service delivery in the department.
Alabar also expressed concern that Nyityo was the second professor in the History Department to be killed.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, information obtained from security agencies indicated that the attackers were allegedly part of a five-man gang suspected of cattle rustling from Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
He said the suspects allegedly entered Benue State in search of cattle but, after failing to find any, came across the professor’s residence.
Alabar explained that the suspects allegedly noticed that Nyityo’s was the only house with its lights on and decided to attack the residence, reportedly believing that the occupant might have money.
“They jumped in, thinking that the man should have money. When they got in, they killed him and his younger brother,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
According to him, the suspects allegedly left the area the following day and headed towards Nasarawa State, where four members of the gang were subsequently arrested.
“As of last Friday, four of those gang members had been arrested and they are in Benue State now, but the gang leader is still at large,” Alabar said.
He added that the four suspects had been arraigned and were being held at a correctional facility, with their case expected to come up before Magistrate Court No. 9 in Makurdi.
The Vice-Chancellor appealed to members of the university community, particularly the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to closely follow the case to ensure that the prosecution is not delayed.
He said the university management had continued to engage with security agencies and monitor developments surrounding the case, stressing that those responsible must be brought to justice.
“We are following at management level. I am talking to members of the university community, especially ASUU. Let’s do a follow-up on this case so that we can address this issue once and for all,” he said.
VC Calls for Staff Housing Estate
Alabar also called on the Benue State Government to consider providing land for a residential estate for university staff as part of measures to improve their security.
He said having university staff reside within the same community would strengthen social ties and make it easier for residents to identify unfamiliar or suspicious individuals.
“When you stay as members, you know yourselves very well. Once you see someone who is very strange, you can actually identify,” he said.
According to him, the isolated location of Professor Nyityo’s residence may have made it difficult for neighbours to respond quickly during the attack.
He proposed that a staff residential community could develop a community-based security arrangement capable of responding promptly to suspicious movements and emergencies.
The Vice-Chancellor urged the state government to consider the proposal, noting that although crime could not be completely eliminated, deliberate community-based security measures could help reduce its impact.
“You cannot control crime completely, but there is a way you can control it,” Alabar said.
