Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A final-year student of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) in Nasarawa State, Habiba Ummi Lele, was shot dead on Saturday, August 1, 2026, by suspected armed robbers while returning to Lafia after attending a friend's graduation ceremony at the College of Health and Technology in Keffi. The 400-level Chemistry student was reportedly travelling in a vehicle when the attackers opened fire, killing her instantly, according to multiple reports published on August 2 and 3, 2026. Her death has triggered an outpouring of grief and anger across social media, with many Nigerians condemning the worsening insecurity that has increasingly put students and travellers at risk.
Eyewitness accounts and reports from Daily Trust, Legit.ng, and other news platforms confirmed that the attack occurred on Saturday, August 1, 2026, while Habiba was returning to Lafia after attending her friend's graduation ceremony at the College of Health and Technology in Keffi. Suspected armed robbers opened fire on the vehicle she was travelling in, and she died at the scene. Her body was laid to rest on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at a funeral prayer held at the residence of Hon. Hudu A. Hudu Kanje, the member representing Awe North Constituency in Kanje. The Executive Chairman of Awe Local Government Council, Hon. Umar Abubakar Dan’AKano, and other community leaders, family members, and friends attended the funeral to pay their last respects.
The tragic incident has drawn widespread condemnation and grief on social media, with many Nigerians mourning the loss of the promising young student and lamenting the country's deteriorating security situation. Mujahid Saleh Saad, reacting on Facebook, prayed for the deceased, writing: "We pray that Almighty Allah forgive her shortcomings, give her family, friends and the entire FULAFIA community the strength to bear this painful loss, and protect all travellers from harm." Tony Ocheni, another Facebook user, decried the nation's security challenges, posting: "The number of people being killed in Nigeria is higher than countries that are fighting wars." On Instagram, a user identified as The Quiet described the security situation in Nasarawa State as alarming, stating: "The rising cases of armed robbery and kidnapping in Nasarawa State is becoming deeply alarming. How many more innocent lives must be lost before stronger action is taken?"
Habiba's death comes just days after suspected gunmen abducted three 100-level students of the Federal University of Lafia during a late-night raid on Sure Leaders Lodge, an off-campus student hostel in the Bukan Kwato area of Lafia. The attackers reportedly stormed the lodge at about 8:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026, and forcefully whisked the students away. The back-to-back incidents have intensified calls by students, parents, and residents for security agencies and the Nasarawa State Government to strengthen security around student communities and major roads across the state. As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the robbery attack that claimed Habiba’s life, while efforts were reportedly ongoing to rescue the abducted students.
The killing of Habiba Ummi Lele has reignited concerns over the safety of students in Nasarawa State and the broader North-Central region, where armed robberies and kidnappings have become increasingly frequent. The Federal University of Lafia community is in mourning, and students have expressed fear over their safety, particularly those living in off-campus hostels that are often targeted by criminals. The recurring attacks on students and travellers have raised urgent questions about the effectiveness of security measures and the government's ability to protect its citizens. As the search for the abducted students continues and the investigation into Habiba's death proceeds, the people of Nasarawa State are left to wonder when the cycle of violence will end and when decisive action will be taken to secure the lives of innocent Nigerians.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments