Mary Habila buried quietly as questions over death remain unanswered

The burial of 26-year-old community health worker Mary Habila has done little to ease the concerns surrounding her death, with residents of her Kaduna community calling for greater transparency over the circumstances that led to her demise.

Habila was laid to rest in Nok, Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the ancestral community of her parents, in a low-key ceremony that reportedly attracted little public attention.

Some residents told Daily Trust that they were unaware of the burial until after it had taken place, despite the intense public interest generated by Habila’s death.

She died on June 27 at the staff quarters of the country residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in Uburu, Ebonyi State.

The Ebonyi State Police Command had confirmed that Habila was taken to the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The investigation was initially handled by the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department before being transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja following the growing public interest in the case.

More than two months after her death, however, the police have yet to publicly disclose the circumstances surrounding it.

A new development emerged after the police confirmed that a post-mortem examination had been conducted and that the autopsy report was ready.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, confirmed the development but declined to disclose the findings. He told Daily Trust that anyone seeking the contents of the report would have to apply through the Freedom of Information process.

The disclosure has raised fresh questions about what the examination established, including whether it determined the cause of Habila’s death and whether its findings have been communicated to her family.

It also comes against the backdrop of earlier reports that the family had objected to an autopsy.

Habila’s father, Pastor Habila Wisdom, declined to comment when approached at the family residence in Nok. He referred inquiries to the family’s lawyer, who also declined to discuss the case and promised to respond later but had not done so by the time of filing.

The secrecy surrounding the burial has further unsettled some residents of Nok and surrounding communities.

Samson Monday Ham, a resident of Kwoi, said the community deserved to know what had happened to a young woman whose death had attracted attention beyond Kaduna.

“Mary Habila’s death caught the attention of not only the international communities, but Jaba Local Government Area and, more especially, her neighbouring communities,” he said, questioning why information about the investigation, autopsy and burial had remained limited.

The circumstances of Habila’s final hours have remained a central part of the controversy.

Umahi had said at a July 16 press conference in Abuja that Habila spoke with her boyfriend shortly before her death and complained of a nosebleed.

According to the minister’s account, Habila later told her boyfriend that the bleeding had stopped and that she wanted to take a bath. He reportedly advised her to seek medical attention.

Umahi said the boyfriend called her again about three minutes later but received no response.

The account contrasts with recollections from people who interacted with Habila before she was found dead. A colleague, Anita Baaki, said Habila had appeared well and had told her she was tired and wanted to shower before going to bed.

Habila had arrived in Ebonyi on June 26 as part of the entourage accompanying the Minister of Works to his hometown of Uburu for official and community activities.

A person familiar with the events said she was seen carrying out preparations alongside other members of the domestic staff before news of her death emerged the following day.

The conflicting accounts have continued to fuel calls for an investigation capable of establishing exactly what happened before Habila died.

For residents back home in Jaba, her burial has not brought an end to those concerns.

Former youth leader in the local government, Monday Gyubok, said the public’s demand for answers was understandable given the circumstances surrounding the death and the subsequent handling of the case.

“These concerns should not simply be dismissed,” Gyubok said.

He nevertheless appealed for restraint, urging those seeking answers to respect the wishes of Habila’s family and avoid turning the matter into a source of hostility.

According to him, the demand for accountability and respect for the deceased’s family can coexist.

“As young people, we are appealing for understanding, restraint and peace. The search for truth should not become a source of hatred, division or further pain,” he said.

With Habila now buried and the police confirming that the autopsy report exists, attention is increasingly turning to the findings of the examination and whether the authorities will make the outcome known.

For now, the cause and circumstances of her death remain officially undisclosed, leaving her family, community and members of the public still seeking answers.