A 300-level student of the University of Jos (UniJos), Plateau State, identified as Peter Mafuyai, has been allegedly murdered by his friend and fellow student, Nanpon Timnan, a 200-level student of Agriculture.
The tragic incident occurred last Friday at Mafuyai’s off-campus residence, where the suspect allegedly killed and buried him in a shallow grave behind the house.
According to Daily Trust, sources revealed that the two students were close friends who spent much time together.
“They were always together, they played football, went to the studio, and hung out often,” one source said.
According to eyewitness accounts, both students had gone out to play football on the day of the incident and later visited a recording studio before returning home.
“Upon returning from the studio, Nanpon went to get a machete,” a source said. “When others in the compound asked what he needed it for, he said he wanted to use it for something.”
Moments later, he reportedly struck Mafuyai with the machete, killing him instantly.
“People in the compound shouted and asked what the victim had done to deserve that, but he didn’t respond. They ran out to get help, but before they came back, he had already buried the body behind the house,” the source added.
Police were said to have invited all the students living in the compound for questioning as investigations continued.
While the motive behind the killing remains uncertain, some sources suggested it might be linked to a disagreement over a music project the two were reportedly working on together.
“No one really knows why he did it. Some said it might be related to the song they were recording, but that’s still speculation,” a student familiar with both of them told journalists.
Others linked the confusion surrounding the case to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, which has kept most students away from the campus, making information difficult to verify.
Naijaonpoint reports that the development has sparked concerns about the upcoming Nigerian University Games (NUGA) 2025, scheduled to hold at UniJos in about ten days.
A university insider, who asked not to be named, said the incident occurred at a sensitive time when the institution was working to reassure visitors of safety ahead of the games.
“This incident is coming at a very critical time. The NUGA hosting already faced challenges, and there were talks of moving it from UniJos over security concerns. People coming from other states have been calling to ask if it’s safe to come. This could worsen those fears,” the source said.
The source added that efforts were ongoing to manage the situation carefully to avoid damaging the university’s reputation or jeopardising its hosting rights.
When contacted, the Acting Head of Information at UniJos, Tongdyen Dachung, said she could not comment on the matter yet.
“I have to confirm a few things before responding officially. For now, I have nothing to say,” she said.
The Student Union Government (SUG) President, Jane Pwajok, confirmed that the case was under police investigation, adding that the union was working to gather verified details.
“The matter is being handled by the police. We’re trying to confirm the full details of what actually happened,” she said.
Pwajok also appealed to students to be cautious with information shared on social media, warning that exaggerated reports could affect the NUGA Games.
“We stand to benefit from hosting the games, so we’re managing how the news spreads to prevent panic,” she said.
However, the Plateau State Police Command has yet to issue any statement regarding the development as of the time of filing this report.
The university community has been thrown into mourning and disbelief over the gruesome incident, with many students describing Mafuyai as easygoing and popular.
“It’s heartbreaking. Peter was kind, cheerful, and hardworking. We can’t believe this happened,” a classmate said.
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