Nok, Kaduna State – Mary Habila, the 26-year-old health worker who d!ed on June 27, 2026, at the private residence of Minister of Works David Umahi in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has been laid to rest in her hometown of Nok, Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Habila, born on September 18, 2000, and popularly known as Mara, was described in various accounts as a nurse, community health extension worker, or physiotherapist attached to or seconded from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (or its teaching hospital) to the Federal Ministry of Works.
She is said to have worked closely with the minister’s medical or household team for about three years.
Her sudden d3ath at a guest chalet within Umahi’s country home sparked widespread public outrage, intense media scrutiny, and demands for a transparent investigation.
Conflicting accounts emerged regarding the circumstances: some reports indicated she was found unresponsive (in some versions naked, with blood around her nose and mouth) the morning after arriving with a colleague.
Umahi maintained she was like a daughter to him, that she had an existing health condition for which he had paid medical bills (including treatment in Turkey), and that she had spoken with her boyfriend about a nosebleed shortly before her d3ath. He denied any wrongdoing and insisted the matter should not be politicised.
Police investigations were launched, initially by the Ohaozara Divisional Police Headquarters and later transferred to the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department.
Authorities and the Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecutions emphasised the need for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of d3ath.
Habila’s family initially opposed an autopsy on cultural and religious grounds, sought the release of her body for burial, and at one point filed an affidavit stating they did not suspect foul play. Burial plans announced for July 17, 2026, at Deeper Life Bible Church in Nok were postponed amid the dispute. The Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) and others called for a thorough, independent probe.
After prolonged delays, Habila’s remains were eventually released and interred in Nok. The burial marks the end of a period of uncertainty for her family, who had prepared a grave that stood empty for weeks while investigations continued.
Minister Umahi has consistently stated that he had no hand in her d3ath and expressed frustration that the tragedy was turned into a political issue, noting that President Bola Tinubu had urged him to continue his work on road infrastructure rather than yield to calls for his suspension or sack.
Condolences continue to pour in for the Habila family and the broader Southern Kaduna community.
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