Mary Habila’s Death: Kaduna Youth Group petitions senate, seeks independent probe

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

A youth group, the Southern Kaduna Youth Movement (SKYM), has petitioned the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, seeking an independent investigation into the death of Miss Mary Habila, who reportedly died at the residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in Uburu, Ebonyi State.

In the petition signed by its National President, Suleiman Haruna, the group urged the National Assembly to facilitate a transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.

The petition, which was also copied to several local and international organisations, including the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation, UN Women, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, called for accountability in the matter.

According to SKYM, Habila, identified as a physiotherapist who reportedly worked with the Federal Ministry of Works, was allegedly found dead under circumstances it described as suspicious at the minister’s residence in July 2026.