Everything We Know So Far About Mary Habila’s Mysterious Death

July 15, 2026Posted byby Anu
Mary Habila

The death of Mary Habila, a physiotherapist, has sparked widespread public attention and calls for a thorough investigation after she was found dead at the country residence of Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in Uburu, Ebonyi State. As details continue to emerge, many questions remain unanswered.

Here is everything currently known about the incident.

Who Was Mary Habila?

Mary Habila was a 26-year-old physiotherapist attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) in Uburu, Ebonyi State. According to the Minister of Works, she had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works for about three years alongside another physiotherapist, Anita Baski.

Although little was publicly known about her personal life before the incident, her death has now placed her at the center of a national conversation.

What Happened?

Reports indicate that Mary Habila died on June 27, 2026, at Senator David Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State.

According to the minister’s statement, Habila was found unresponsive, prompting immediate efforts to obtain medical assistance. Medical personnel, including the chief medical director of DUFUHS, were reportedly contacted, while the police were also notified. Despite these efforts, she was pronounced dead.

According to reports by Sahara Reporters, who officially broke the news, her family has announced her burial arrangements, which will take place on Friday, July 17, in Kaduna State.

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Why Has the Case Generated So Much Controversy?

The circumstances surrounding Habila’s death have raised several questions.

Initial reports alleged that she had travelled from Kaduna State with another woman, Anita Baski, to the minister’s residence a day before her death. Other reports claimed that her body was discovered naked, further fueling public speculation and demands for an independent investigation and an autopsy. Some of these claims have been attributed to unnamed police sources and have not been officially confirmed by investigators.

Nigerians React

The case has generated significant reactions across social media and the Nigerian public.

Many Nigerians have questioned how a government employee died at the residence of a serving minister and have called for a transparent investigation. Activists, civil society groups and members of the public have urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that the investigation is thorough and free from political interference.

Omoyele Sowore, via his X handle, demanded a coroner’s inquest into her death before she was buried.

“There MUST be a coroner’s inquest into the death of Mary Habila at the residence of Tinubu’s minister of works, David Umahi Given the mysterious manner of her death and unanswered questions about the circumstances of her presence at the minister’s home, it is in the interest of justice that all appropriate investigative and forensic procedures, including, where required by law, an autopsy and any other relevant inquiries, be completed before Mary Habila is buried. Any attempt at hurried burial by her family must be resisted. Ms. Mary Habila died with blood flowing from her mouth, which suggests that her death is unnatural. There have been several allegations of mysterious deaths surrounding Umahi, including those of 5 NELAN engineers that remain unsolved to date.

Others have continued to ask questions about how she died.





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