Fresh details have emerged regarding the tragic passing of former Senator Bello Mandiya, who died alone at his private residence in the Apo area of Abuja after slipping in his bathroom and hitting his head. His lifeless body went undiscovered for roughly 72 hours.
Relating the tragic incident during Senate plenary on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Senator Abdul Ningi, provided a solemn, step-by-step account of the circumstances surrounding his late colleague’s death.
According to Senator Ningi’s account, Senator Mandiya was last seen alive by a colleague at approximately 11:00 AM on Friday, September 4, 2026. Mandiya had returned to his Apo residence to prepare for the Friday congregational Juma’at prayers.
”He brought out his cap, his phones, and put them on the bed, and went into the bathroom to take his bath. After taking his bath, when he was out of the bathroom, then he slipped and knocked his head,” Senator Ningi told fellow lawmakers.
Mandiya, who lived alone, succumbed to his injuries inside the bathroom. Because no one was present to render aid, his absence went unnoticed throughout the weekend.
The alarm was raised approximately 72 hours later after the Chief Imam of the local mosque in Apo grew concerned over Mandiya’s unusual three-day absence from congregational prayers. Simultaneously, neighbors at the residential complex detected a strong foul odor emanating from the apartment.
On Monday, September 7, 2026, residents and family members, including Senator Ningi’s son, forced the locked apartment door open, discovering Mandiya’s lifeless body in the bathroom.
”For 72 hours, Mr. President, nobody knew where Bello Mandiya was. And there lies Bello Mandiya in the bathroom, lifeless. Seventy-two hours, and that’s a simple tragedy,” Ningi remarked.
Reflecting on his relationship with the late politician, whom he had known since 2002, Senator Ningi described the incident as a sobering reminder of life’s fragility.
”There is nothing permanent about anything. Nothing permanent about our position, nothing permanent about our wealth,” Ningi stated, offering prayers for the deceased and condolences to his family, constituents, and the government of Katsina State.
Following the news, Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State issued a statement describing Mandiya’s passing as a profound loss to both Katsina State and the nation as a whole.
Senator Bello Mandiya, aged 62, represented Katsina South Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly from 2019 to 2023 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
During his tenure in the Senate, he chaired the Senate Committee on Water Resources. Prior to his election to the National Assembly, Mandiya served as Chief of Staff to former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari.
