Gunmen have abducted and killed Dr. Iliyasu Abubakar Sadiq, a lecturer and researcher at the Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
The Jigawa State-born academic was seized at about 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from his farmhouse in Tudun Muntsira, a community situated directly behind ABU’s Samaru Campus.
His body was discovered hours later, around 2:00 p.m., in Karau-Karau village with gunshot wounds to the head.
Widow recounts tragic breach and final moments
Recounting the ordeal, Dr. Sadiq’s widow, Hajiya Baraka, described how four unmasked, armed men forced their way into the residence after overcoming the couple’s attempt to hold the door shut.
Key details provided by the family include:
Final words: As the assailants dragged him away, Dr. Sadiq’s last words to his wife were a desperate plea: “Baraka! Baraka! Take care of my children. Please, have mercy.”
Family threatened: When Dr Sadiq attempted to run, the attackers warned him that his wife and young children remained in their custody.
Demand for cash and valuables: The gunmen ransacked the residence, demanding cash, bank details, and ATM cards, which the family did not possess.
Dependents left behind: Dr Sadiq leaves behind two wives and nine children, including an eight-month-old infant.
Following the abduction, Hajiya Baraka raised the alarm in neighbouring compounds, leading community members to search surrounding bushes before police later recovered his body.
Academic community mourns former department head
Dr Sadiq previously served as Head of Programme for Pest Management at the Division of Agricultural Colleges, teaching courses in Entomology and Agriculture.
Colleagues and leadership at Ahmadu Bello University expressed deep sorrow over the killing:
Director’s reaction: Prof. Bashir Ahmed Babaji, Director of the Division of Agricultural Colleges, described Dr. Sadiq as a dedicated and reliable staff member, lamenting the persistent insecurity impacting academic communities across the North-West.
Family tribute: His uncle, Alhaji Yahaya Lawal Kalli, described the loss as devastating, noting that Dr. Sadiq was a hardworking family man who had lived under his care throughout his educational pursuits.
University security officers and local police authorities have launched investigations into the killing, though no arrests have been announced.
