Gen. Murtala Mohammed - assasinated exactly today 39 years ago

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General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, born November 8, 1938, was assassinated in Lagos in February 13th 1976. He was just 38 years old and had only been head of State for less than seven months.


The late Head of State who was well loved, took power on July 30th 1975 in a bloodless coup against Gen. Yakubu Gowon's administration. Gowon was overthrown while at an OAU summit in Uganda.

Murtala Muhammed was killed along with his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa, on February 13, in a failed coup attempt led by Lt. Col Buka Suka Dimka. Murtala's car was ambushed while on his way to his office at Dodan Barracks, Lagos. He was succeeded by the Chief of Staff, Supreme HQ, Olusegun Obasanjo. Dimka was later executed for Murtala's assassination.