Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has passed away at the age of 82 in a London medical facility on Sunday, July 13, 2025, following a long battle with illness, reportedly leukemia.
The family spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, confirmed the news and asked for prayers for Buhari’s peaceful rest in Aljannatul Firdaus, in accordance with Islamic traditions.
Buhari, who first ruled Nigeria as a military head of state from 1983 to 1985, later served two terms as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
He was widely recognized for his firm stance against corruption and efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s economy during his civilian administration.
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari remained a central figure in Nigerian politics for many years.
In response to the news, President Bola Tinubu extended heartfelt condolences to Buhari’s family and ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast in honor of the late leader.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has been tasked with traveling to the United Kingdom to oversee the repatriation of Buhari’s remains to Nigeria.
Details regarding the funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon, with plans to adhere to Islamic burial customs. Buhari’s passing marks the conclusion of a notable chapter in Nigeria’s political history, spanning both military and democratic leadership.
