THE family of a Kebbi indigene, Murtala Muhammad, has demanded investigation into his death after his body was allegedly found buried in a foundation close to his building site days after he went missing.
Muhammad, founder of Abukhadeja Herbal Medicine and Therapy and organising secretary of the Islamic Teachers Development Cooperative Association, Kebbi State chapter, was reported missing on August 27, 2026, to the police division along Birnin Kebbi Central Market.
According to his family, residents later discovered a human body buried at a plot in the Bulasa area, around Goru, along the Birnin Kebbi-Kalgo road.
The family said the discovery was reported to the police division, whose officers visited the scene and recovered the body.
However, the family alleged that instead of taking the remains to a mortuary for preservation and identification, the police reburied it at the same location.
Speaking with The ICIR, Zarah Murtala, a member of the deceased’s family, said the family had been searching for Muhammad for about six days before receiving information about the discovery.
“Malam Murtala got lost on Thursday, August 27, 2026. So, we have been searching for about six days and also reported the case to the police,” she said.
Zarah said that after the family members reported Muhammad missing, the police told them that residents of the Bulasa area had reported finding a corpse buried on a plot of land.
“The police took their report and later buried the corpse again at that same place, reporting that the corpse could not be taken away from there, which is false,” she alleged.
She alleged that the police and a family representative later visited the scene, where the police had reburied the remains.
A flier circulated by the family said residents noticed part of a human body, including a hand, protruding from the ground on August 31.
It stated that the body was found in a foundation trench close to Muhammad’s building site and was excavated after the residents alerted the police.
The family further alleged that the body was not properly washed or shrouded and that no religious prayer was said before it was allegedly reburied by the police.
Family identifies body
According to Zarah, the family received information from the police on September 2 about the discovered body and insisted on going to the location.
The family said the body was identified and confirmed to be that of Muhammad on the same day.
Zarah confirmed that the plot where the body was found belonged to the deceased.
The body was subsequently exhumed and taken to Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, on September 3, according to the Zarah.
She said the body was prepared for burial and the Janazah prayer was performed at about 2:30pm before it was buried according to Islamic rites on September 4..
Zarah said although a doctor examined the corpse, no autopsy was conducted to establish the cause of death.
She added that the family had yet to receive any report on the cause of death.
“The corpse was examined by the doctor and later directed that it should be taken to the mortuary, but we did not get any report concerning the cause of death,” she said.
Family raises questions
The family is demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Muhammad’s disappearance and death.
It also wants authorities to establish how his body ended up at the foundation site, who buried it there and whether he was killed.
The family is further demanding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discovery and exhumation of the remains, why the body was allegedly reburied instead of being taken to a mortuary, and why photographs were reportedly not made available to relatives to assist with identification.
The family called for the investigation to be “thorough, transparent, impartial and independent.”
It appealed to the Nigeria Police Force, human rights organisations, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the National Assembly and other relevant authorities to intervene.
“We are demanding justice for Murtala,” Zarah said.
The family said anyone found responsible for killing Muhammad, his unlawful burial, mishandling of his remains or obstruction of justice should be held accountable.
Police keep mum on case
The ICIR contacted the Kebbi State Police Command through its Police Public Relations Officer, Bashir Usman, for clarification on the allegations and details of the case.
The command was asked to confirm whether Muhammad’s disappearance was reported on August 27, to also respond to the allegations against its officers, and if an autopsy or other medical examination was conducted to establish the cause of death. But no response was received as of the time of filing this report.
On Wednesday, September 9, The ICIR called the command spokesperson, but he did not answer the call. The ICIR subsequently sent SMS and WhatsApp messages to his phone, asking him to confirm whether Muhammad’s disappearance was reported on August 27, respond to the allegations against the command’s officers, and clarify whether an autopsy or any other medical examination was conducted to establish the cause of death.
However, no response had been received as of the time of filing this report.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M