Mary Habila’s death: Ebonyi Traditional Council announces spiritual cleansing, declares curfew

The Uburu Traditional Rulers Council in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has announced a community-wide spiritual cleansing exercise and imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew, weeks after the controversial death of Mary Habila at the residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi.

The announcement was contained in a public notice dated July 21, 2026, and signed by Chief Nicholas Odi, Chief Media Officer of the Uburu Traditional Rulers Council and President General of Eweze Uburu Autonomous Community, on behalf of the council headed by HRH Eze Lazarus N. Umahi.

According to the notice, Thursday, July 23, 2026, has been designated for the traditional “Isu Arua” of Ndi Uburu, with all preparations for the spiritual exercise concluded.

The council said a community-wide curfew would be observed from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday to allow the exercise to take place.

It directed that all businesses, markets, shops, commercial activities, social gatherings, parties, ceremonies and other public activities within Uburu remain suspended throughout the duration of the curfew.

The council urged residents, indigenes, visitors and the general public to comply with the directive, describing it as a mark of respect for the community’s sacred tradition and a step towards spiritual cleansing, peace and renewal.

The announcement comes weeks after the death of Mary Habila at Umahi’s residence in Uburu, an incident that has attracted widespread public attention and remains under police investigation.

Umahi has confirmed that Habila died at his residence, maintaining that she was a physiotherapist seconded from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, DUFUHS, to the Federal Ministry of Works.