Emir Sanusi Recounts Where He Was During the Assassination of Murtala Mohammed

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has offered a rare and personal reflection on one of Nigeria’s most significant historical tragedies—the assassination of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, Nigeria’s fourth military Head of State. In a recent television appearance, the former Central Bank Governor recounted precisely where he was when the shocking incident occurred.

Sanusi revealed that he was a student at King’s College in Lagos on the day the military coup, orchestrated by Lt. Col. Bukar Suka Dimka, led to the killing of Murtala Mohammed. The event, which unfolded on February 13, 1976, remains one of the darkest episodes in Nigeria’s post-independence political history.

A Personal Bond Beyond Politics

Speaking on Politics Today, a popular political talk show on Channels Television, Sanusi paid an emotional tribute to the late Murtala Mohammed, referring to him not only as a national hero but also a beloved family member.

According to the Emir, “Murtala Mohammed was more than a national figure to me; he was my uncle. My father served in Nigeria’s foreign service, so I was raised in the household of my great uncle, Alhaji Inuwa Wada, who was also an uncle to Murtala. We knew him within the family as Uncle Kawu Murtala.”

Sanusi recounted his formative years in Lagos, particularly how he was sent to King’s College in 1973. During that time, Murtala Mohammed became his legal guardian. “Naturally, he took up the responsibility of my welfare. I spent almost every weekend, midterm break, and part of my holidays at his residence, bonding closely with his children. I was truly part of his household,” he said.

Gentle Beneath the Tough Exterior

Reflecting on Murtala’s personality, Sanusi painted a picture that contrasts with the rigid and often intimidating public persona the late Head of State is remembered for. “He had this widely accepted image of being firm, decisive, and unyielding—but to those of us who lived with him, he was a gentle soul. He was humorous, considerate, and had a warm heart,” Sanusi recalled.

Sanusi concluded by noting that he was physically at King’s College on the very day his guardian, Murtala Mohammed, was assassinated. The traumatic memory of that day still lingers for him.

This heartfelt revelation gives Nigerians a deeper, more intimate view of the iconic leader, showing that beyond his military achievements and political impact, Murtala Mohammed was also a caring family man whose legacy still resonates within his extended family and the nation at large.