Man Slumps During Prayers In Abuja Mosque, Dies In Hospital

A 52-year-old man, Salihu Byezhe, has died after collapsing during Subhi (early morning) prayers at a mosque in Gudaba village, Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday.

Eyewitnesses reported that the incident occurred on Thursday after Byezhe had finished eating Sahur (pre-dawn meal before fasting), performed ablution, and joined other worshippers for prayers.

Musa Dantani, a resident of Gudaba who was present during the incident, recounted how Byezhe suddenly collapsed mid-prayer. “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 Kuje hospital later confirmed Byezhe’s death, attributing it to high blood pressure. It was revealed that the deceased had been managing high blood pressure, which may have spiked during the morning prayers.

One of Byezhe’s sons, who was also at the mosque at the time, accompanied the Good Samaritans who rushed him to the hospital and was present when the doctor pronounced his father dead.

Following Islamic rites, Byezhe was buried around 10:12 a.m. on Thursday.