UniJos student allegedly killed by colleague, buried in shallow grave

UniJos student allegedly killed by colleague, buried in shallow grave

By Johnson Arua

A 300-level student of the University of Jos (UniJos), Plateau State, has been allegedly murdered by a fellow student at his off-campus residence.

The victim, identified as Peter Mafuyai, a student of the Department of Banking and Finance, was allegedly killed by Nanpon Timnan, a 200-level student of Agriculture, who also buried his body in a shallow grave behind the apartment.

According to multiple sources, the two students were close friends who often spent time together. On the day of the incident, last Friday, they were said to have gone out to play football before heading to a music studio for a recording session.

Upon returning home, Nanpon allegedly fetched a machete under the pretext of needing it for something, then struck Peter with it.

An eyewitness said, “The other occupants of the compound, who were also their friends, asked him what he wanted to do with the machete, but he didn’t respond. Moments later, he attacked his friend. People raised an alarm and ran out to call for help, but by the time they returned, he had buried the body behind the house.”

Police have reportedly invited all close associates of the two students for questioning as investigations continue.

While the motive for the killing remains unclear, one source suggested it might be connected to a misunderstanding over a joint music project. Another speculated that the ongoing ASUU strike, which has kept many students away from campus, may have made it easier for the crime to go unnoticed for some time.

The incident has also sparked concerns about its possible impact on the university’s upcoming hosting of the Nigerian University Games (NUGA) 2025, scheduled to take place in less than two weeks.

A source familiar with the preparations said, “This incident is happening at a very delicate time. There were already concerns about security in Jos and Plateau State, and some people had even suggested relocating the games. Now, this could further reinforce those fears.”

When contacted, the university’s Acting Head of Information, Tongdyen Dachung, declined to comment, saying she would need to verify the facts before making an official statement.

Meanwhile, the Student Union Government (SUG) President, Jane Pwajok, confirmed that the case was under police investigation, adding that the union was working to ascertain the full details of the tragic incident.