Abdullahi Usman, the prime suspect in the murder of Professor Gabriel Saawua Nyityo and his younger brother John, was arrested at an NDLEA checkpoint in Nassarawa State while attempting to flee to Lafia.
According to accounts circulating on social media, Usman killed the professor and his brother on Wednesday night in Makurdi before boarding a commercial bus to Lafia early Thursday morning.
At the NDLEA checkpoint, a drug law enforcement officer stopped the vehicle and questioned passengers. Usman drew suspicion when officers discovered four Android phones in his possession. He claimed all the phones belonged to him, but further checks revealed that only one was his. Two belonged to the slain victims, while the third belonged to a neighbour.
When officers dialled a number saved as “MAMA” on one of the phones, the biological mother of one of the victims answered. She revealed that her son had left the phone to charge at the professor’s house the previous night and was shocked to learn of the killings when she received the call.
The discovery led to Usman’s immediate arrest. He reportedly attempted to escape by unlocking his handcuffs but was overpowered and handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.
Usman is from Awe Local Government Area of Nassarawa State. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the murder of the university professor and his sibling.
