Mammy Market Founder Maria Ochefu Passes Away at 86

Maria Ochefu, the woman who pioneered the Mammy Market concept found in military barracks across Nigeria, has died at the age of 86. Her son, Professor Yakubu Ochefu, confirmed that she passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, March 18. She had been receiving care at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi and would have turned 87 in April.

The late Mrs. Ochefu was the wife of the late Colonel Anthony Ochefu, who once served as the military governor of the old East Central State. Her passing was shared by security analyst Deji Adesogna on X (formerly Twitter), where he wrote, “RIP MAMA MAMMY MARKET. The founder of Mammy Market in military barracks across the country, Maria Ochefu, 86 years old, is dead.”

Maria Ochefu’s contribution to military community life in Nigeria has been widely acknowledged. What began as a simple effort to provide basic goods and refreshments to soldiers and their families evolved into what is now known nationwide as Mammy Market—a vital hub of commerce, food, and social interaction within barracks. Her legacy lives on in every corner of the country where these markets remain an integral part of military life.