ABUJA, Nigeria is in mourning following the announcement of the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed the passing of his predecessor in a statement released late Sunday, June 13, describing the moment as a solemn one for the nation.
According to the official statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the former leader died at approximately 4:30 p.m. in London, where he had been receiving treatment for a protracted illness.
In a swift response to the loss, President Tinubu contacted the former First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, extending heartfelt condolences to the grieving family. He has also directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to immediately travel to the United Kingdom to accompany the late president’s body back to Nigeria.
As a mark of national mourning and respect, President Tinubu has ordered that all national flags fly at half-mast across the country.
Muhammadu Buhari served Nigeria in two significant capacities: first as military Head of State from January 1984 to August 1985, and later as a democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023 becoming the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent president at the polls.
Details on funeral arrangements are expected in the coming days. The nation watches in solemn reflection as tributes pour in from across the globe for the man many remember as a disciplined leader with a deep sense of national duty.
