Hundreds of Muslim faithful gathered in solemn reflection at the Taraba State Police Command Headquarters Jumu’at Mosque, Jalingo, on Friday, where a special funeral prayer in absentia — known as Salatul Gha’ib — was held for victims of a recent boat mishap in Gassol Local Government Area.
Among the deceased remembered during the emotionally charged service were 22-year-old A’isha Rilwanu Lawan, who was reportedly pregnant at the time of the tragedy, and a young boy identified as Yusuf. Both were among several passengers who went missing after their boat capsized near the collapsed Namnai Bridge last week.
The Salatul Gha’ib was led by the Chief Imam of the mosque, Ustaz Mustapha Nuhu Badamasi Lau, who spoke at length about the significance of the prayer in Islamic tradition. He explained that the rite is performed for individuals who die in places where their bodies are unrecoverable, or for those of high standing in society whose deaths warrant communal spiritual solidarity.
“In Islam, honoring the dead is a duty upon the living. We perform this prayer not only to seek Allah’s mercy for their souls but to comfort the grieving and remind ourselves of the fleeting nature of life,” Ustaz Badamasi said.
The mood at the mosque was one of grief, reflection, and collective mourning. Friends, relatives, and sympathizers turned up in large numbers, many unable to hold back tears as prayers were offered. Some held placards calling for improved safety measures on waterways and better infrastructure in rural areas.
Community members described A’isha as a vibrant and promising young woman who had only recently begun antenatal care before the tragic incident. Young Yusuf was said to be cheerful and full of dreams.
The boat they boarded was ferrying passengers across a river near the site of the collapsed Namnai Bridge — a vital but now dangerous crossing point in Gassol LGA. According to local accounts, the vessel capsized due to strong currents and overloading. Rescue efforts have been ongoing, but several passengers remain missing.
Beyond the religious undertone, the prayer gathering served as a rallying point for renewed calls on government and relevant authorities to prioritize the rehabilitation of rural infrastructure and enforce safety regulations on water transport.
“It’s not just about offering prayers. This is a wake-up call,” said Malam Ibrahim Garba, a community elder. “We are tired of losing loved ones to preventable disasters
