Fresh details have emerged regarding the cause of death of Nigeria’s immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday in London.
Multiple reliable sources have confirmed that the former president died after a prolonged battle with leukemia, a type of blood cancer. Though the presidency is yet to release an official statement confirming the exact cause of death, those close to the late leader disclosed that he had been receiving treatment for leukemia for several years at a top London medical facility.
According to insiders, Buhari’s health had sharply deteriorated in recent months, prompting renewed concerns about his condition. A source familiar with the situation said: “It is true that Baba (Buhari) has been ill for a long time, and it became particularly severe in recent weeks. Leukemia is what finally took him.”
His medical trips abroad had long been a subject of national debate, especially during his tenure, as critics raised concerns over the secrecy surrounding his health and the amount of public funds expended on foreign treatment. Recent allegations by activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, claimed that the Nigerian government was incurring a whopping £3,000 per night to keep the former leader in intensive care at the London facility — a claim that has further stirred public outrage.
Leukemia, the disease he reportedly succumbed to, is a cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. It can be aggressive and often requires extensive treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, or bone marrow transplants — most of which are not readily available in Nigeria’s overstretched healthcare system.
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Muhammadu Buhari served as Nigeria’s military ruler between 1983 and 1985 before being democratically elected president in 2015, serving two terms until 2023.
As tributes continue to pour in from political allies, foreign dignitaries, and citizens, questions are also being raised about the nation’s access to transparent health records of its leaders — a recurring issue in Nigeria’s democratic experience.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to address the nation shortly and has reportedly placed a call to the late president’s widow, Aisha Buhari, with directives for a state burial already underway.
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