Exploring General Murtala Muhammad’s Resting Place

Abbas Yushau Yusuf

After the assassination of Nigeria’s charismatic Head of state ,the late General Murtala Ramat Muhammad on February 13 1976,the General was buried in his hometown of Kano in Hausawa area,by then the place was bushy and settlements did not sprang like what is obtained today.

Now the area is congested with settlements where many people live,after the death of Murtala the place where he was buried is a space and old farm settlements.

Now east to the grave is the popular Mosque in Kano called Masallacin Murtala,where Jumuat and five daily prayers are always conducted by Muslim faithfuls .

A visitor praying at the graveyard of general Murtala

The Late Wazirin Kano Sheikh Isa Waziri was the former Chief Imam of the Murtala Muhammad Mosque and conducted Ramadan Quranic exegesis in the Mosque.

After the death of Sheikh Isa Waziri Sheikh Badamasi Dantaura is now the Chief Imam of the Mosque.

When NIGERIAN TRACKER correspondent visited the grave side of the late General ,Muslim faithfuls who gathered at the Murtala Muhammad Mosque for a wedding were seen stopping at the graveyard in a remorseful manner praying for the repose of General Murtala Muhammad’s soul.

Apart from General Murtala Muhammad’s grave aside was three other graves ,which was said to be that of his mother Late Ramat Muhammad and his eldest son Late Zakari Murtala Muhammad who was killed in mysterious circumstances around 1993.

In the past few years the grave side was bare but now it was fenced and an inscription was made ,the inscription on the grave is a Muslim prayer being offered to the dead as ruled by Islamic injunctions.

Another view of the graveyard

But experts have suggested that late General Murtala Muhammad’s grave should be made like a national monument where a library by the side will be erected and his achievements documented inside it, including his last clothe and even the mercedes car in which he was assassinated.