LONDON, UK – Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s former president and former military dictator, has died in London at the age of 82.
His death was confirmed in an official statement issued on Sunday, July 13, 2025, by his longtime spokesperson, Garba Shehu.
The former leader died at a private clinic in the UK capital, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.
“Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London,” Shehu said in the statement.
“May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus. Amin.”
INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHIRRAJIUUN.
The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, this afternoon in a clinic in London.
May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin. pic.twitter.com/Dv0IfgzWAc— Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) July 13, 2025
Buhari served twice at Nigeria’s helm — first as a military ruler from December 1983 to August 1985, following a coup d’état, and then as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
His second tenure, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made him the second Nigerian leader to hold both military and civilian presidential titles after Olusegun Obasanjo.
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, in northern Nigeria, Buhari rose through the ranks of the Nigerian Army before seizing power as head of state at the age of 41.
His brief military rule was defined by strict anti-corruption policies, the infamous “War Against Indiscipline,” and a rigid economic regime. He was ousted in a palace coup in 1985.
Three decades later, after several unsuccessful runs, Buhari swept to power in the 2015 general elections, defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
His victory was seen as a historic moment in Nigeria’s democratic evolution — the first time an opposition candidate unseated a sitting president at the ballot box.
As president, Buhari pledged to fight corruption, rebuild Nigeria’s battered economy, and defeat the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast.
His administration scored early successes, particularly in reclaiming territories held by the terrorist group, and in initiating high-profile anti-graft investigations.
However, by his second term, critics accused his government of authoritarian tendencies, economic mismanagement, and a failure to curb escalating insecurity across the country.
His prolonged medical leaves to London during his presidency also sparked public debate and raised questions about transparency in governance.
Buhari’s legacy remains complex — a figure hailed by supporters as austere and disciplined, and criticised by others for presiding over a divided nation struggling with inflation, unemployment, and security crises.
He is survived by his wife, Aisha Buhari, and several children and grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family and Nigerian government in the coming days.
As news of his death spreads, tributes are beginning to pour in from across Nigeria and around the world, marking the end of an era in Africa’s most populous nation.
