By our reporter 16.7.2026
Youths under the umbrella of the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) said they would embark on a nationwide protest in seven days’ time, if minister of works David Umahi does not resign or get fired by President Bola Tinubu and a comprehensive investigation conducted following the death of Mary Haliba.
The NYCN position is coming on the heel of a national outrage that greeted the death of Miss Haliba who was found unresponsive on June 27 in Mr. Umahi’s private residence in Uburu Ebonyi State. According to reports there were signs of violence on her body raising suspicion there must have been foul play.
Mr. Umahi had claimed that Haliba and one other lady Anita Baaki who was at the house at that time where physiotherapist seconded from the David Umahi University, but according to reports the two ladies arrived in Ebonyi on June 26 and the next day Haliba was found dead.
“A healthy, vibrant 26-year-old young woman doesn’t simply drop dead under such conditions. Under any functional system of law, a death occurring under the roof of a high-profile political figure warrants immediate police detention, questioning, and an uncompromised, transparent criminal inquiry,” NYCN national president Comrade Isah Abubakar said in a statement.
“If the Federal Government fails to suspend Senator Dave Umahi and initiate a credible, uncompromised prosecution process within the next seven days, the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, in active partnership with allied Civil Society Organisations and youth structures across the federation, will mobilise and shut down major public spaces in continuous, nationwide protests.
“We will occupy the streets of Abuja, Kaduna and Ebonyi State in daily protests until Umahi resigns or is removed to face the full wrath of the law. We will not stand by and watch the life of another young Nigerian woman become a footnote in what we believe are attempts at a cover-up.”
Meanwhile the Police in Ebonyi State said it was necessary for the body of Haliba to undergo a pathological examination as family of the deceased said they would rather burial their daughter on July 17.
Ebonyi Police spokesperson Joshua Ukandu said Thursday there was an active investigation. He said detectives have questioned relevant persons.
“The Command is set to engage the services of a pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination that will help determine the cause of death and support the ongoing inquiry.”
“The family of the deceased has, however, claimed that they do not want any autopsy performed on their daughter.
: “The Command nonetheless considers the examination necessary, given the sensitive nature of the case and the imperative of establishing the true cause of death.”
“The Command therefore awaits the attendance of the family or their duly appointed representative, as their presence is essential to the conduct of the post-mortem examination,” he said.