Idris Shuaibu Zubair, affectionately known as Elgimbawy, was born on 7 July 2001 in Gimba, Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He was the son of Malam Shuaibu Zubairu Gimba and Fatima Ibrahim, who passed away the year prior to his martyrdom. Raised in a close-knit household, he had three elder siblings—one brother and two sisters—and six younger siblings.
After completing his primary and secondary school education, Idris gained admission into Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, to pursue a degree in Computer Science. Alongside his academic pursuits, he was dedicated to hard work and self-reliance, engaging in pepper trading at the Tudun Saibu market and assisting with family farming.
Within the Islamic Movement, Idris found deep inspiration in the life and devotion of Shaheed Ahmad Zakzaky, adopting him as his primary role model. He dedicated his talents and energy to communal service through multiple forums:
Media activist and documentarian for Jaishu Shaheed Ahmad Zakzaky (JASAZ)
Active member and media contributor for the local Da'ira youth forum (Dandalin Matasa)
Mentor and caregiver for young children within the community, especially the child of the late Shaheed Zaharadden Gimba
Advocate for youth education, actively supporting JAFSH and striving to expand opportunities for younger members
Known for his good character, approachable nature, and constant recitation of the Holy Qur'an and supplications, Idris had a progressive vision for community institutions. As a computer science student, he passionately urged administrators at the Fudiyya school to modernize their administration, proposing to build a digital platform to transition student registration and record-keeping entirely online to replace cumbersome paper files.
On 29 April 2022 (28 Ramadan 1443), Idris participated in the annual peaceful International Quds Day procession in Zaria, marching in solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine. During the demonstration, he was struck by gunfire. Medical examinations and attempted surgeries failed to locate the bullet, which remained deeply lodged inside his body, causing intermittent and severe internal complications over the following year.
On Wednesday night, 19 April 2023 (28 Ramadan 1444), precisely one Islamic year after the shooting, his condition deteriorated sharply. He was rushed to the hospital, where he passed away shortly after arrival at the age of 22, attaining martyrdom from the lingering wounds sustained in the path of Allah.
“Kulluna Ahmad ya Aba Ahmad.”