Nigeria is in mourning following the death of its former President, Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away this afternoon at a clinic in London. The announcement was made by Garba Shehu, his longtime media aide and Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity during Buhari’s tenure, via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle.

In a solemn post, Shehu wrote:

“INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHIRRAJIUUN. The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin.”

The former president, who led Nigeria between 2015 and 2023, had maintained a low profile since leaving office. He was known to have been receiving medical care in the UK in recent months, though the nature of his ailment was not publicly disclosed.

Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari was a retired Major General in the Nigerian Army and previously served as the country’s military Head of State from 1983 to 1985. He returned to power through democratic elections in 2015 under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC), becoming the second Nigerian to rule both as a military leader and civilian president.

May Allah grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.