On November 8, 1938, a Nigerian military officer and former Head of State, Murtala Ramat Muhammad, was born in Kano State, Nigeria.
Murtala, the son of Muhammad Riskuwa, the chief Alkali (judge) of Kano, and Uwani Rahamatu, attended Cikin Gida Elementary School, located within the emir’s palace, before transferring to Gidan Makama Primary School just outside the palace.
He continued his education at Kano Middle School and then at the renowned Government College. He became a member of the Cadet Corps and served as the captain of shooting in his final year. In 1957, he obtained his school leaving certificate and applied to join the Nigerian Army.
In 1958, Murtala successfully enlisted in the Nigerian Army and underwent brief training in both Ghana and Nigeria. In 1961, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to the Army Signals. By 1963, he became the officer-in-charge of the First Brigade, and in 1964, he was promoted to major, taking command of the 1st Signal Squadron in Apapa, Lagos.
In April 1966, Murtala was promoted to lieutenant colonel and became the Inspector of Signals at Army Headquarters, Lagos. He was also appointed as a member of a Post and Telecommunications Management Committee. By April 1968, he was promoted to colonel, and in October 1971, he achieved the rank of brigadier general.
On July 29, 1975, while General Yakubu Gowon was attending the 12th summit of the Organisation of African Unity in Kampala, Uganda, his government was overthrown. Murtala Muhammad assumed power as the new Head of State, appointing Brigadiers Olusegun Obasanjo and Theophilus Danjuma (both later lieutenant generals) as Chief of Staff of the Supreme Military Headquarters and Chief of Army Staff, respectively.
On February 13, 1976, Murtala set off for work along his usual route on George Street in Lagos. At around 8:00 a.m., while his Mercedes Benz moved slowly through Lagos traffic near the Federal Secretariat at Ikoyi, soldiers believed to be part of an abortive coup led by Lt. Col. Bukar Suka Dimka emerged from a nearby petrol station, ambushed the vehicle, and assassinated Murtala Muhammad.
He died at age 37 alongside his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa. His assassination was seen as part of a failed coup attempt by Dimka, who was later tried and executed for treason on May 15, 1976.
