Nigeria’s Former President Muhammadu Buhari Dies at 82 After Long Illness in London

Muhammadu Buhari, the former military dictator and ex-president of Nigeria, has died following a long illness. He died aged 82 in a London hospital. He was announced dead on Sunday, July 13, 2025, by government and family reports.

Buhari first came into power in 1983 through a military coup and stayed in office until 1985. Years after that, he was brought back as a civilian leader, defeating in the 2015 presidential election—the first opposition candidate to vanquish an incumbent in Nigeria's history. He was re-elected in 2019 and stayed in office until 2023.

He is renowned for his ascetic lifestyle and anti-corruption crusade, and he had a loyal support base, particularly in Nigeria's north. He was focused on combating insurgency by Boko Haram and retooling public institutions during his presidency. However, his administration was faulted for worsening security, economic downturns, and human rights abuse, most notably during the 2020 #EndSARS protests.

Despite being given mixed reviews of his leadership, Buhari was nonetheless an icon of Nigeria's democratic evolution. He had a legacy of infrastructural growth and a reputation for honor, albeit sullied by economic mismanagement and partisan anti-corruption enforcement.

Born in Daura, Katsina State, on December 17, 1942, Buhari will be buried in his hometown in conformity with Islamic customs. He is survived by his wife, Aisha Buhari, and numerous children.