Popular Nigerian Islamic singer, Rukayat Gawat Oyefeso has passed away.
She was well-known for her captivating voice and religious music that resonated with many in the Muslim community.
The news of her death was shared by popular Ilorin-based cleric Alfa Aribidesi At-Tawdeeh Islamic Da’awah on his official Facebook page on Tuesday morning.
Her loss is deeply felt among her fans and the broader Islamic music scene – with the news of her death widely shared.
Meanwhile, a family member and a brother to the deceased, Jubril A Gawat has confirmed this sad news.
Jubril, who is a Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu quoted a Quran verse on his X account on Tuesday morning.
His post read, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” Q 2 V 156
His post has garnered so much traction with followers and associates expressing their condolences.
However, PUNCH Online cannot verify further details surrounding her death and burial.
Meanwhile, a colleague of the deceased, Alhaja Misturah Aderounmu, popularly known as TeminiSuccess1 via her TikTok account posted on Monday afternoon a post about the vanity of life.
Reactions from fans were uncertain as to what prompted her post not until this morning when the news of Gawat’s death went viral.
Her post captioned in a video of her being morose read, “In the spirit of hustling, may we not be brought home dead.”
Daughter of missing broadcaster
PUNCH Online reports that the deceased is the daughter of popular broadcaster and Islamic presenter, Alhaji Rasaq Aremu Gawat who mysteriously disappeared with no details of his whereabouts known until now.
In a 2017 interview, she told PUNCH Sunday Scoop that her father’s disappearance was her source of motivation.
Some years ago, the whole nation was gripped with the terrible news that popular Islamic broadcaster, Aremu Gawat, was missing. The TV presenter was said to have left his office on July 6, 2012, and nothing has been heard from him since then.
In a 2019 interview, she said she would rather quit music rather than go secular.
Though born in Lagos Island, the late artiste who hailed from Igbaja, Kwara State is married to Alhaji Shakiri Oyefeso.
Story: The PUNCH