Suspect Arrested in Nasarawa After Killing Benue Professor and Brother

A suspected killer, Abdullahi Usman, has been arrested in Nasarawa State following the murder of Professor Gabriel Saawua Nyityó and his younger brother, John, in Benue State.

According to reports, the suspect allegedly committed the crime on Wednesday night before boarding an early Thursday morning commercial vehicle en route to Lafia.

His arrest occurred at an NDLEA checkpoint in Nasarawa, where officers stopped the vehicle for routine checks. During questioning, Usman claimed he was returning from visiting a relative in Makurdi. However, a search of his bag revealed four Android phones, raising suspicion among the officers.

When asked to explain ownership of the devices, Usman stated that all the phones belonged to him. Further investigation, however, contradicted his claim. Only one of the phones was confirmed to be his, while two belonged to the murdered victims. The fourth phone was traced to a neighbor who had left it at the professor’s residence for charging due to a lack of electricity.

The situation took a decisive turn when officers attempted to verify ownership of one of the phones. A contact labeled “MAMA” was dialed, and the woman who answered revealed that her son had taken the phone to the professor’s house to charge it. She further disclosed that the household had been attacked, with both occupants killed, and sympathizers already gathered at the residence.

This revelation prompted officers to detain Usman immediately. While in custody, he reportedly attempted to escape but was restrained and subsequently handed over to security authorities for further investigation.

Preliminary findings confirmed that the recovered phones belonged to the slain professor and his brother. The suspect, hails from Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.