Gunmen kill deputy VC of Usmanu Danfodiyo University

Gunmen have killed Prof. Yusuf Saidu, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research, Innovation, and Development at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

Confirming the killing in a statement shared on its Facebook page on Monday, the university said the deputy VC was killed while travelling from Sokoto to Kaduna state.

“The death has occurred of Prof. Yusuf Saidu, the current Deputy Vice Chancellor Research Innovation and Development Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto.

“He was attacked and killed by bandits on his way to Kaduna from Sokoto State,” the university said in a statement.

The university described him as “a man of integrity, religion, dedication and courage.”

“May Allah accept his soul and forgive his sin but this is a painful loss to all members of the University community and the Academia at large,” it prayed.

The spokesperson for the state police command, Ahmad Rufai, said he heard the report but couldn’t confirm it as he was yet to be briefed or formally received the report.

“We just heard the incident this evening, not officially but from different sources. I can’t speak on what I don’t know. I can’t speak for the police now regarding that issue because I’m not authorised. I don’t have any tentative information regarding that.

“I’ll have to reach one of the staff in order to have more clarification. We cannot investigate issues that we don’t have facts at hand. I’ve not seen the release from the school,” Rufai said.