Bandits 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 late deputy VC was killed while travelling from Sokoto to Kaduna state. 

The institution in the statement said, “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,” it revealed. 

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.

Meanwhile the public relations officer of the state police command, Ahmad Rufai, said he heard the report but couldn’t confirm it as he hadn’t been briefed or formally received the report.

Mr Rufai said, “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,” the spokesperson stated.