For over five decades, the Abdullahi family has dedicated themselves to caring for Nigeria’s largest graveyard in Kaduna, a selfless commitment rooted in their faith.
The Unwavering Commitment of the Abdullahi Family
For over five decades, one family has dedicated themselves to caring for the largest graveyard in Nigeria’s northern city of Kaduna. The Abdullahi family’s selfless dedication has not gone unnoticed by the community, who are grateful for their services.
The vast Tudun Wada Cemetery was set aside for Muslim residents of the city a century ago. In the 1970s, two brothers, Ibrahim and Adamu Abdullahi, began working at the cemetery. Their sons have since become the main custodians of the graveyard. The family’s commitment to their work is rooted in their faith.
A Legacy of Service
“Their teachings to us, their children, was that God loves the service and would reward us for it even if we don’t get any worldly gains,” Magaji Abdullahi, Ibrahim’s oldest son, explained when asked about his family’s decision to continue working as unpaid undertakers. Magaji is now in charge at Tudun Wada, overseeing operations and 18 staff members.
The three full-time workers – Magaji, Abdullahi, and Aliyu – report for duty by 07:00 every day, seven days a week. They are always on call due to the importance of organizing burials within hours of death in Muslim tradition. Digging graves can take up to an hour, with two people working together to dig down 6ft into the earth.
A Community’s Appreciation
The Abdullahi family’s dedication has not gone unnoticed by the community. Inuwa Mohammed, a 72-year-old worker at the cemetery, spoke highly of Ibrahim and Adamu Abdullahi, saying they were “amazing people who loved what they did and have imbibed their children with this altruistic behavior.”
A New Chapter
However, things are about to change for the better. The new local council chairman has decided to put the Abdullahi family on the payroll. Magaji confirmed that staff members have started receiving a monthly salary for the first time.
The small salary allocated to the Tudun Wada workers is well below the national minimum wage of $45 per month. However, the chairman hopes to increase their allowance “with time.” The new development has brought welcome relief to the family, who can now focus on their work without worrying about financial stability.
For Magaji and his family, this new chapter brings hope for a brighter future. He hopes that one day, one of his 23 children will become a custodian of the cemetery, continuing the family’s legacy of service to the community.
