Tears, tributes flow after death of Kaduna lady who took in ‘hundreds’ of orphans
The death of Hauwa Hassan Salisu, popularly known as Uwar Marayu (Hausa for ‘mother of orphans’), the founder and chief custodian of Al-Ihsan Balsuma Children’s Home Kaduna, on Monday, 12th June, 2018 touched many, because of the role she has been playing in the lives of orphans, widows, the aged, and less-privileged within Kaduna State.
Born 46 years ago, Hauwa, who died at 44 Army Reference Hospital Kaduna after battling with cancer for many years, spent most of her adult life caring for women and children in any way she could. She started taking care of orphans since she was 11, and continued till her death.
Though she started the orphanage in her father’s house on the same street before a well-meaning Nigerian built the present home, she never asked for help from NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs), but rather, they came to her when they hear the quantum of work she is doing and the number of orphans she has under her care.
A popular response of hers when asked how they survive, is “Allah has been providing for us.”
Hauwa is survived by her six biological children, including Hafsat, Hussaina, Firdausi, Hassan, Hajara and Rukkaya, as well as 160 orphans of ages between 1 to 17. They are presently residing at a privatelyowned home for orphans in Nassarawa area of Kaduna State.
Though a civil servant with a merger salary, Hauwa used her big heart and her belief that Almighty Allah will provide a means to bring succor for every child or person that crossed her path. Even aged women without families visited the late Hauwa for assistance.
Aminatu Aliyu, Hauwa’s mother, described her daughter as a good child. “She
Two communities in Konshisha LGA of Benue State have thrown caution to the wind as they engaged themselves in dirty fights over the ownership of a parcel of land. Before the crisis, which has led to the death of many in both warring communities, the people of Mbamar and Ugambe communities of Konshisha had lived peacefully.
gathered that trouble started recently after a family belonging to the Ugambe community attempted to take possession of the land in dispute following a Supreme Court judgment decided in their favour.
A respondent who requested anonymity, explained that the land in question had been a subject of lingering controversy between the family which alleged ownership, and the Mbamar community.
The family had shortly after the judgment moved to possess the property by farming on the land, which did not go down well with the Mbamar community, which allegedly led a gang to the spot, and killed one person.
It was learnt that the Ugambe was a blessing to me and my family since she was a child. As a child, she loved to help people and she showed love to children younger than her. She was someone who would spend her last kobo to help another because she felt that person needed the money more. Even when she was battling for her life in the hospital just before the commencement of Ramadan, she did not for one day forget to ask about her children in the home. It seemed she was more concerned for them than herself.”
Aminatu said the house and their lives will never be the same now that Hauwa is gone. “I pray that Almighty Allah accepts her into Paradise,” the grieving mother told Aisha Usman, people in sympathy with one of their own, the family in the eyes of the storm, took the battle in retaliation to the Mbamar community where another person was also allegedly killed and houses burnt. The development marked the genesis of the crisis which has now snowballed into a full-fledged communal crisis that has left both communities deserted.
For Mr. Anthony Uleve, whose uncle’s house was torched in the process, the crisis was condemnable. He noted that the state government intervened on the matter at its early stage, but the parties went ahead to start amassing destructive weapons, hiring militia and killing themselves.
The state government, on Monday, announced that it has taken possession of the disputed land, even as Governor Samuel Ortom warned the warring factions to stay away.
Ortom also announced the suspension of the district head Hauwa’s aged grandmother, could not hold back tears as she prayed. “Hauwa will be missed; she was an exceptional person, someone who always thought of others’ even before her own children.”
Hauwa Jibril, one of the cooks at the orphanage, said what she will miss most about Hauwa is the sermons that she used to give. “She took me into the home when I was a child and she is the same person who married me off and taught me how to go through life. She would preach to us about being good.”
Retired Colonel Danjuma Alhassan, Hauwa’s ex-husband, described her as a good woman. “If there were more people like her, I’m sure poverty will be a thing of the past because she could spend her last money of Iwarnyam, Chief Unaha Koko and the kindred heads of Mbazerem and Mbayem/ Mbaikyu, Anongo Tema and just to make someone else smile. She fought for what is right and never bent the rules just to please others. I pray others will emulate her good work, and keep her legacy alive.”
Basira Abubakar, Hauwa’s neighbor said, “I’ve never seen a woman like her. I moved into the area about four years ago, and she showed me nothing but love. She was very dedicated to the children in her home, and one could visibly see that she wanted nothing but the best for them. She was not a hypocrite, and was someone who would always correct people when they go astray.”
Aisha Yakubu, co-founder and chairperson of Al-Ilm Child Trust Foundation, has been working with Hauwa. She said, “Humanity has lost one of its finest, a compassionate mother to orphans, a fighter. May she rest in peace.” Atser Kor in connection with the crisis.
Ortom disclosed that over 40 suspects were already arrested and under interrogation by the police.
Police earlier arrested 22 people in connection with the attack, allegedly from MbamarAwajir community on Ugambe people, both in Konshisha.
Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, however on Thursday said that a total of 44 people were apprehended including some politician from the area in suspicion of the matter.
Owoseni had informed that the earlier 22 arrests was made during an early morning operation by a reinforcement team. He also said a former chairman of Konshisha LGA, Vitalis Ayomar, is being soughtafter by the police to explain his role in the matter, adding that Ayomar is alleged to have camped hired militia at his home.
At the time of filing this report, the suspects have been arraigned in court, and the case adjourned to July 24.