Nigeria's Former President Buhari Dies in London at 82
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Nigeria's former President Muhammadu Buhari died Sunday afternoon in London at age 82, his press secretary confirmed. Buhari had been receiving medical treatment in the British capital in recent weeks before his death. The announcement comes two years after he completed his second presidential term, having led Africa's most populous nation from 2015 to 2023.
Current President Bola Tinubu has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide and dispatched Vice President Kashim Shettima to London to oversee the repatriation of Buhari's remains. The country has entered an official mourning period following the announcement.
Buhari first seized power through a military coup in 1983, ruling as head of state until 1985. After Nigeria's return to democracy, he made three unsuccessful presidential bids before finally winning in 2015 on his fourth attempt. His electoral victory was driven by widespread public anger over corruption and insecurity under the previous administration.
Coming from Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north, Buhari campaigned on promises to eliminate extremist violence, particularly from Boko Haram, and to combat the rampant corruption that had plagued Africa's largest economy. His austere personal style and reputation for discipline initially generated significant public goodwill.
However, his eight-year presidency faced mounting challenges. Despite military gains against Boko Haram, overall security deteriorated with increased banditry, kidnappings, and communal violence. Nigeria's economy struggled with recession, high unemployment, and currency devaluation. Critics argued that corruption persisted throughout his administration, undermining his anti-graft credentials.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
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