Maiduguri, Borno State – February 12, 2026 — A professor at the Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB), Abubakar Mohammed El-Jummah, has died in captivity after being held by Boko Haram insurgents for nearly one year. The tragic news was confirmed by his family in a statement released on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
Professor El-Jummah was abducted on March 2, 2025, along the Damaturu–BiU Road in Borno State while travelling for official duties. The incident occurred amid persistent insecurity in the region, where Boko Haram and ISWAP factions continue to carry out abductions, ambushes, and attacks on highways and rural communities.
According to the family’s statement, the professor passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at approximately 2:45 a.m., following a brief illness attributed to the severe hardship, malnutrition, and physical strain he endured during his prolonged captivity. No further medical details were provided, but the family expressed profound grief over his suffering and untimely death.
The late professor has since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites, though the exact location and circumstances of the burial were not disclosed, likely due to the ongoing security situation and the fact that his body was not recovered by his family or the authorities.
A Salat al-Ghaib (funeral prayer in absentia) has been scheduled for Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Ngomari Old Airport Juma’at Mosque, located behind his residence in Maiduguri. The prayer is expected to draw members of the academic community, colleagues, students, friends, and sympathisers from across Borno State and beyond.
Professor Abubakar Mohammed El-Jummah was widely regarded as a distinguished academic, dedicated mentor, and scholar of integrity. He served at the Nigerian Army University Biu, contributing significantly to teaching, research, and mentorship in his field. Colleagues and former students have described him as a man of deep knowledge, humility, and unwavering commitment to education and community development. His work had a lasting impact on many young Nigerians, particularly those pursuing higher education in the North-East.
The Nigerian Army University Biu, established to provide specialised training and research in support of national defence and development, has lost one of its respected faculty members in tragic circumstances. The university is yet to issue an official statement, but tributes from the academic community have already begun to pour in, describing the professor’s death as “a significant loss to scholarship, the university community, and the wider society.”
The abduction and subsequent death of Professor El-Jummah highlight the persistent and devastating human cost of the Boko Haram insurgency in North-East Nigeria. Despite military operations and the significant degradation of the group’s capabilities over the past decade, insurgents continue to carry out abductions—often targeting educators, civil servants, travellers, and rural dwellers—for ransom, forced recruitment, or propaganda purposes.
The professor’s case is among several high-profile abductions in recent years that have underscored the vulnerability of highways and rural roads in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states. Families of other captives have repeatedly appealed to the federal and state governments for intensified rescue efforts and greater protection for civilian populations.
No official comment has been issued by the Nigerian military, the Borno State Government, or federal authorities regarding Professor El-Jummah’s death at the time of this report. Security agencies have not confirmed whether any negotiations for his release were underway or if intelligence indicated his deteriorating health prior to his passing.
The incident has reignited public calls for improved security on major roads, increased deployment of troops and technology along vulnerable corridors, and more effective strategies to secure the release of remaining captives still held by insurgent groups.
Professor Abubakar Mohammed El-Jummah’s death in captivity is a painful reminder of the ongoing human tragedy in Nigeria’s North-East and the urgent need for sustained efforts to restore peace, protect civilians, and rebuild communities affected by more than 15 years of insurgency.
May Allah grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus and comfort his family, colleagues, students, and all who mourn his loss.
