Residents of Talba Housing Estate in Niger State have been thrown into mourning following the discovery of the decomposed body of a Qur’anic teacher, Mallam Awwal Yakubu, in an uncompleted building.

Yakubu, aged 45 and a father of seven, had been declared missing since Thursday, December 4, 2025.

His body was, however, found four days later, on Monday, December 8, leaving his community in deep grief and uncertainty.

Naijaonpoint understands that the tragic discovery was made by children who were reportedly searching for a missing fowl within the estate.

Their search led them to the abandoned structure where they noticed the lifeless body.

According to Daily Post, residents said items found beside the corpse included a pack of matches and a bottle of tigernut drink.

His clothes were placed on one side of the building while his shoes were found separately, a situation that raised concerns about whether a struggle had occurred or if the scene had been arranged deliberately.

A distraught resident lamented the disturbing sight, saying, “This is sad, barbaric, and agonising. May Almighty God continue to protect us from such catastrophic incidents. Ameen.”

Confirming the incident, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said a report reached the police at about 10 am on December 7, notifying officers of a corpse behind Talba Estate along Bida Road, Kpakungu.

Police operatives from the Kpakungu Division were immediately dispatched to the location, where they found the decomposed remains in an uncompleted structure.

According to Abiodun, “Relatives later identified the remains as Awwal Yakubu, a 45-year-old resident of the area.”

He added that the body, suspected to have been dumped at the site, had been evacuated to a hospital for examination.

The police spokesperson further disclosed that an investigation has been opened to uncover the circumstances surrounding Yakubu’s death and determine whether foul play was involved.

Meanwhile, the Barkin Saleh community, where the deceased operated a Qur’anic school, is still reeling from the news as they await official findings.

Residents continue to express grief and shock over the mysterious death of a man described as peaceful and dedicated to his religious duties.