UNIMAID Professor Abubakar Mohammed El-Jummah Dies in Captivity

The academic community is mourning the tragic passing of Professor Abubakar Mohammed El-Jummah, a distinguished scholar at the Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) and former long-standing faculty member at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID). 

Professor El-Jummah was abducted nearly a year ago, on March 2, 2025, along the Damaturu-Biu Road while in transit. His death was confirmed by family members in the early hours of Wednesday, February 11, 2026, reportedly following a brief illness exacerbated by the harsh conditions of his captivity. 

Funeral Arrangements:

Salat al-Ghaib (Funeral Prayer in Absentia): Scheduled for today, Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m..

Venue: Ngomari Old Airport Juma’at Mosque, situated behind his residence in Maiduguri. 

Professor El-Jummah was a renowned expert in Energy Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, having served in various capacities at UNIMAID since 2006 before taking a sabbatical and subsequent tenure at NAUB in 2022 and 2023. Colleagues and family describe him as a mentor and a man of great integrity whose contributions significantly impacted the educational landscape of Borno State. 

The university community and well-wishers have expressed profound grief, describing his death as an irreparable loss to his family and the wider academic society.