There are moments when news lands quietly, but still carries deep weight. One of such moments came with the announcement of the passing of Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega, wife of former INEC Chairman and former Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Attahiru Jega.
Her death was confirmed in a statement shared on the official social media page of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), where the institution expressed sorrow and total submission to the will of Allah. In the short but emotional message, the university wrote: “Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un” — a phrase Muslims use in moments of loss to acknowledge that all souls belong to Allah and return to Him.
For many people who know the Jega family, this is not just the loss of a public figure’s spouse. It is the passing of a woman whose name was tied to one of Nigeria’s most respected academic and public service households. And in moments like this, titles and offices tend to fade, leaving only the pain of family, faith, and farewell.
According to the announcement, her Janazah prayer will hold immediately after Zuhr prayer at the National Mosque in Abuja on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
The university also offered prayers for the late Hajiya Hadiza, asking Allah to forgive her shortcomings, grant her Aljannatul Firdaus, and give the family the strength to bear the painful loss.
That prayer, simple as it may sound, is one many grieving families in Northern Nigeria and across the Muslim community understand deeply. In times like this, words often feel too small, and faith becomes the language people hold onto.
While not much was publicly shared about the circumstances of her passing, the announcement has already drawn sympathy from those who know Prof. Attahiru Jega not just as a former electoral umpire, but as a respected voice in Nigeria’s academic and democratic space.
For a man who has spent years in public service and national conversations, this is now a very private season of mourning.
And beyond the public attention, what remains most important is the family left behind — now navigating grief, remembrance, and the difficult quiet that follows loss.
May her soul rest in peace.