Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari has died in a hospital in the United Kingdom.
The news was confirmed Sunday afternoon by his longtime spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a brief statement.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu later announced Buhari’s passing and directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to fly to the UK to accompany the former leader’s body back to Nigeria.
Tinubu also expressed condolences to Mrs Aishat Buhari, the late president’s widow, and ordered flags flown at half-mast nationwide.
Buhari reportedly passed at around 4:30 pm (UK time) after battling a prolonged illness.
He previously served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1984 to 1985, and later as democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023.
