Aisha Muhammed, the daughter of Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, has shed light on the circumstances that led to her father’s assassination, attributing it to his austere lifestyle and firm leadership principles.
Speaking on Monday, the 2nd of February, 2026, during an appearance on ARISE News’ Morning Show, as the country commemorated 50 years since the late leader’s death, Aisha said her father’s refusal to indulge in the privileges of power exposed him to danger.
She described General Muhammed as a man whose actions consistently reflected his beliefs, noting that he governed with strong convictions anchored on discipline, accountability and responsibility. According to her, he regarded corruption as a grave menace capable of undermining the fabric of society.
“I think his leadership style was clear. He led with clarity. He believed in accountability. He believed in responsibility,” she said.
Aisha stressed that her father’s stance against corruption went beyond rhetoric, explaining that he lived by the values he championed and openly condemned corruption as a destructive force.
“We are all familiar with his anti-corruption stance. Corruption was not something he just talked about… 50 years later, look at what has happened,” she added.
She further explained that the former military leader deliberately shunned the trappings of office, choosing not to move with long convoys, sirens or excessive security details. Instead, he preferred a lifestyle that mirrored that of ordinary Nigerians.
“My father didn’t go around with motorcades and sirens or a lot of security. That was who he was,” Aisha said.
According to her, this decision ultimately made him an easy target during the attempted coup that happened on the 13th of February, 1976.
“That was why it was actually easy to assassinate him. He didn’t have a whole slew of security with him.
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“He was in traffic like everybody else,” she said, recalling that he was reportedly delayed by traffic officials shortly before he was attacked.
General Muhammed came to power in July 1975 following a bloodless coup that ousted General Yakubu Gowon. However, his time in office was short-lived, as he was killed just six months later during a failed coup attempt.
Despite ruling for only about 200 days, his administration left a lasting legacy. He is widely remembered for sweeping reforms, including the removal of over 10,000 public servants over corruption-related allegations, the creation of seven additional states, and setting Nigeria on the path toward a return to civilian governance.
His government also initiated plans that eventually led to the relocation of Nigeria’s capital from Lagos to Abuja.