Popular Nigerian singer drops dead after eating “poisoned” meal

A renowned traditional musician, John Zuya, popularly known as John Mai Molo, has reportedly died after allegedly consuming poisoned food in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

According to sources, Zuya had just returned from Lagos on October 16, 2025, where he recently performed at several cultural events.

Shortly after his return, he reportedly began experiencing severe discomfort and collapsed after eating food suspected to have been poisoned.

Confirming his death in a Facebook post, fellow singer and close associate, Emma Wakili, announced that Zuya passed away in the early hours of Saturday, October 18, 2025.

“It is confirmed that John Zuya passed on this morning at 7:00 a.m. His body has been placed in the mortuary as we move forward with the investigation,” Wakili wrote.

The late musician was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, where doctors pronounced him dead.

His body has since been deposited in the morgue for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.