The Bursar of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Mallam Nasiru Gusau Marafa, has been killed after he was reportedly shot while returning from Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

The university confirmed his death in a statement issued on Sunday by its Registrar and Secretary to Council, Oladipo Ajayi.

According to the statement, Marafa died on Sunday, September 6, 2026, in what the university described as a sudden and untimely death.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting were not immediately disclosed.

The Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of the university’s Governing Council, Management, Senate, staff and students, expressed sadness over the death of the bursar.

Ajayi described Marafa as a committed administrator who served the institution diligently and held several positions of responsibility during his career.

He said the deceased’s death represented a significant loss to the university community, describing him as a distinguished colleague and valued member of the NOUN family.

Marafa was appointed as the university’s bursar on September 17, 2022, for a five-year tenure expected to run until September 2027.

The registrar conveyed the institution’s condolences to Marafa’s immediate family, relatives, colleagues and friends.

He said details concerning the deceased’s burial would be announced by the university once arrangements were made available by the family.

The university prayed for Allah’s forgiveness and mercy for the deceased and asked for strength for his family and members of the university community to cope with the loss.