52-year-old man collapses, dies during early morning prayers in Abuja Mosque

Tragedy struck in Gudaba village, Kuje Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as Salihu Byezhe, a 52-year-old man, collapsed and died while observing Subhi (early morning) prayers at a local mosque on Friday.

According to witnesses, the incident occurred on Thursday morning, shortly after Byezhe had finished his Sahur (pre-dawn meal before fasting), performed ablution, and joined fellow worshippers for prayers.

Musa Dantani, a local resident who witnessed the event, described how Byezhe suddenly collapsed in the middle of prayers.

“Prayers were ongoing when he suddenly slumped, and some Muslims inside the mosque quickly held him and conveyed him to the hospital. He was still breathing on the way, but unfortunately, he gave up upon arrival,” Dantani said.

A doctor at the hospital in Kuje later confirmed his passing, linking the cause of death to high blood pressure.

Sources revealed that Byezhe had been dealing with high blood pressure, which might have intensified during the prayer session. One of his sons, who was also at the mosque, accompanied those who rushed him to the hospital and was present when the doctor pronounced him dead.

Burying him in accordance with Islamic rites, family and community members laid Byezhe to rest at around 10:12 a.m. on Thursday