An elder brother to late Abdullahi Mairuwa has said that he and his family believe the deceased was deliberately murdered and was not a victim of armed robbery.

Aliyu Akato told PREMIUM TIMES that the condition under which his brother, an aide to Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, was killed. convinced the family it was a case of murder.

The deceased was shot in the presence of his wife, Salamatu Abdullahi, on Saturday morning along Keana- Obi -Awe road close to Tudun Adabu on his way to his country home in Keana Local Government Area.

“We not suspecting anybody but how he was killed raised more questions than answers,” Mr. Akato, the Auditor of Keana Local Government Area, said.

Mr. Akato said for the deceased to have been singled out from among three other occupants of the car showed he was the target.

“The situation seems very dicey and calls for a lot of questions. If not why would they choose to shoot only him and leave others travelling with him.

“That is what is giving us some elements of worry over the whole issue because if it were armed robbers they would have shot everybody in the car,” he said.

Mr. Akato called for a detailed investigation into the assassination and said the family was yet to decide on the next line of action.

“We would have wanted to seek legal action but due to the delay in justice system we are afraid; but we will meet at a family level and take a decision”.

Although there has been no official statement from the Nasarawa State Government on the murder, the permanent secretary at the government house, Joseph Ancho, and other top government functionaries have visited the family.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the deceased was travelling in an official Hilux van with his wife, one of his daughters, and a driver, Isah Mamuda, when the incident occurred.

Mr. Mairuwa is survived by his wife and eight children.