TRIBUTE TO LATE MALLAM USMAN IDRIS (POPULARLY KNOWN AS USMAN TELA)

It is with a heavy heart and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah that I pay tribute to the life and times of Late Mallam Usman Idris, popularly known as Usman Tela, a respected son of Abaji and a notable member of the Bassa community in Abaji, FCT.

Late Mallam Usman Idris passed away on Wednesday, 19th August 2026, at Ayaura Comprehensive Health Clinic, Abaji, after a protracted illness. He was 72 years old. He passed away shortly after performing the Zuhr prayer while on his sickbed, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to live on in the hearts of his family, friends, community, and all those whose lives he touched.

Mallam Usman Tela was among the notable Bassa indigenes in Abaji who were exposed to the wider world, enlightened, and able to interact meaningfully with people from different ethnic backgrounds. He was a man who understood the value of peaceful coexistence, friendship, unity, and community development.

He was a professional tailor who learned the tailoring trade under his master, Alhaji Hassan Tela of Abaji, in the 1980s. After completing his apprenticeship, he became a master tailor himself and trained many people who later became prominent members of the community. Among those he trained were the present Aguma of Kekeshi, Mallam Yusuf Kure; Mallam Attahiru Adakaura; Mallam Hussaini Shesheganishi, and many others. Through his skill, dedication, and commitment to his profession, he contributed significantly to the development of tailoring and vocational skills within the community.

Late Mallam Usman Tela was married to five women during his lifetime. Two of the marriages ended in divorce, while three wives remained with him until his death. He was blessed with 30 children, of whom 10 sadly passed away, leaving 20 surviving children—12 females and 8 males.

Among his 12 surviving female children, nine are successfully married, while three are yet to marry. Of his eight surviving male children, four are married, while the remaining four are unmarried. He was also blessed with 42 grandchildren, a remarkable testimony to the large family Allah graciously granted him.

From being an only child of his mother, Allah blessed him with a large family and descendants who will continue to carry his name and preserve his memory for generations to come.

As a father, husband, grandfather, friend, and community member, Mallam Usman Tela was known for his sincerity, honesty, dedication, and compassion. He was a man of truth who stood out among his peers for his integrity and unwavering commitment to the well-being of his people. Above all, he was deeply devoted to his faith and lived his life with a strong sense of religious responsibility.

His death has created an irreplaceable vacuum, particularly within the Bassa community of Abaji. He touched many lives through his kindness, generosity, good deeds, and genuine concern for others. His children will undoubtedly miss his love, guidance, kindness, and fatherly care. However, they can take solace in the enduring legacy he left behind and the beautiful memories he created throughout his lifetime.

His remains were taken for Janazah (funeral prayer) after the Asr prayer at about 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 19th August 2026, after which he was laid to rest at the Muslim Cemetery, Abattoir, Abaji, FCT Abuja.

Late Mallam Usman Idris (Usman Tela) will be greatly missed—not only by his immediate family and the Bassa community, but also by the many people from other ethnic groups with whom he interacted throughout his lifetime. His life was a testament to peaceful coexistence, hard work, craftsmanship, family responsibility, sincerity, and devotion to Allah.

As we mourn his departure, we pray that his children and grandchildren will continue to uphold the values he taught them and preserve the good name he left behind. May his life continue to inspire those who knew him to embrace kindness, peaceful coexistence, hard work, and service to humanity.

May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, illuminate and widen his grave, grant him eternal rest, and admit him into Jannatul Firdaus. May Allah grant his three surviving wives, children, grandchildren, relatives, friends, the Bassa community, and the entire people of Abaji the fortitude to bear this great and irreplaceable loss.

Ameen Ya Rabbal Alameen.

Written by:

Comr. Haruna A. Kure

Native of Abaji, Kekeshi Community, FCT Abuja

23rd August 2026