The decomposed body of Mallam Awwal Yakubu, a Qur’anic teacher and father of seven, has been discovered in an uncompleted building at Talba Housing Estate, Minna, Niger State. Yakubu had been reported missing since Thursday, December 4, and his remains were found on Sunday morning.
Local authorities reported that the body showed signs of burns on his private parts, with a pack of matches found nearby, raising suspicions about the circumstances surrounding his death. The discovery has shocked the community and prompted a police investigation.
Community leader Mallam Mahmud Dalhatu Iya confirmed the family had identified the body and proceeded with burial arrangements. “We were informed about a decomposed body in an uncompleted building within our estate. We alerted the police, and while there, someone who knew him came forward and said he had been missing since Thursday. His body has now been prepared for burial,” he said.
SP Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, confirmed the incident, stating that officers responded promptly after receiving the report. “At about 10 a.m. on 7th December 2025, a corpse was found behind Talba Estate, Bida Road, Kpakungu. The deceased, later identified as 45-year-old Auwal Yakubu, had been missing since December 4,” he said.
Authorities believe the body may have been abandoned at the location, though the cause of death is yet to be determined. “The body has been taken to the hospital, and the investigation to determine what happened has begun,” SP Abiodun added.
Residents described the discovery as alarming and distressing, highlighting growing concerns over safety in the area. Community members have called for swift action by the police to apprehend anyone responsible for the incident.
Investigators are now examining the scene, interviewing witnesses, and gathering evidence to determine whether Yakubu’s death was accidental, criminal, or otherwise. Police have urged anyone with information to come forward to aid the ongoing probe.
