Buhari’s children speak on bond with their late father, his discipline, love for animals, others - Newstrends
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Buhari’s children speak on bond with their late father, his discipline, love for animals, others

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1 year ago

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Late Former President, Muhammadu Buhari and his family

Buhari’s children speak on bond with their late father, his discipline, love for animals, others

As Nigeria continues to mourn the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, members of his family have spoken publicly, offering intimate reflections on his personal life, values, and the legacy he leaves behind. 

In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Buhari’s children and grandchildren shared stories that reveal the late leader’s character beyond politics — his humour, discipline, and unwavering commitment to integrity.

Buhari passed away on Sunday in a London clinic following a yet-to-be-disclosed protracted illness.   He was brought back into the country on Tuesday and buried in Daura, his hometown. Nigerians from all walks of life thronged Daura to pay their respects.

His death has sparked a wave of reactions across Nigeria and beyond, with many reflecting on his presidency, his military past, and his personal journey as a father and grandfather.

‘He cautioned us not to use what doesn’t belong to us’

Hadiza Muhammadu Buhari, popularly known as Nana, one of his daughters, spoke about her father’s strict moral code and the lessons he instilled in his children from a young age. “I remember when we were little, there’s a time he gave me money to buy textbooks. After buying the books, I used the remaining change to buy sweets,” she recalled.

“When I returned and gave him the remaining balance, he said, ‘Nana, that’s improper. If you’re sent to buy something, return the change to the person who sent you. If they choose to give it to you, accept it. But never touch what doesn’t belong to you.’”

Nana described her father as a man of principle, patience, and quiet strength. “He used to call me Madam Nana. We would chat, joke, and laugh together. He didn’t like noise, and even when insulted, he never retaliated — he would just look at you.”

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She also said late Buhari had special attachment to all his children. I am deeply pained by his exit, just the way I was devastated when we lost our mother 20 years ago.

“We used to discuss a lot of issues whenever we are together…Sometimes, he used to tell me that whenever he looked at me, I reminded him of his mother.”

Nana added that Buhari’s love for his grandchildren was unwavering.

“He had special names for all of them. There is Mama and there is Babban Mutum. He also loved his relatives and he kept a bond with them.

“He was also in love with animals, including his cattle. He had turtles and peacocks,” she said.

She also shared a moment from his final days. “During his treatment, I went to London to check on him. When he got better, I told him I was returning to Nigeria. He asked, ‘Where are you going?’ I said, ‘Back to Nigeria,’ and he replied, ‘Then go and greet Nigerians for me.’”

‘We are grateful to those who forgave our father’

Aisha Hanan Buhari, one of his younger daughters, expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “Losing him feels like losing a part of me,” she said. “What I’ll miss most is his sense of humour. I looked at him as a part of myself.”

Hanan also addressed the public response to her father’s passing, particularly the expressions of forgiveness from Nigerians.

“We have nothing to say to them but to say thank you, Alhamdulillah,” she said. “He had good intentions for Nigerians. He belonged to everyone.”

She added that her father encouraged her to pursue education, prayer, and activities that brought joy and fulfilment. “He trained me to study, pray, and do things that make us happy,” she said.

‘He gifted me a turtle three times’

One of Buhari’s granddaughters, Sa’adatu Muhammad, also shared her memories, including a unique tradition her grandfather upheld. “Whenever a grandchild was born, he would send two turtles — a male and a female — for the child to raise,” she said.

Sa’adatu recalled receiving turtles from him on three separate occasions. “He gifted me some and they died. He gave me another set, and they also died. He gave me a third time but said he would not give me any more,” she added.

She also reflected on the public’s reaction to Buhari’s legacy. “This is a great gift — someone who has the right to be angry but chooses to forgive. There’s a video of him apologising after he left office, which went viral. People saw it.”

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Sa’adatu defended her grandfather’s reputation, saying, “Human beings are not infallible. Everyone has lapses. But no matter what you think of him, you can’t call Baba a thief, and you can’t call him a tyrant.”

Domestic staff share emotional memories

Suleiman Sani Kaita, a long time member of Muhammadu Buhari’s domestic staff who personally served the late president his meals and drinks, has shared heartfelt reflections on their final moments together.

“We had a good working relationship with him. He loved us, and we loved him dearly,” Kaita said. “We pray that Allah forgives him, admits him into Jannah, and gives us the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”

Kaita also revealed Buhari’s simple culinary preferences. “His favourite food was boiled potatoes and eggs. He was a regular tea person and doesn’t eat much — he preferred light meals.”

Aliyu Maiwada Masanawa, another member of Buhari’s domestic staff, recalled the warmth and affection the former president showed him over the years, “Since I met him, he treated me like his grandchild.

“He even gave me a pet name — ‘Malam Dogo’— and people used to fondly joke with me about it.”
He described his time with Buhari as filled with joy and fond memories, saying the late president’s humility and kindness left a lasting impression on those who worked closely with him.

Buhari’s children speak on bond with their late father, his discipline, love for animals, others

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Troops Arrest Female Gunrunner, Recover AK-47 in Plateau

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August 22, 2026

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Troops Arrest Female Gunrunner, Recover AK-47 in Plateau

Troops Arrest Female Gunrunner, Recover AK-47 in Plateau

Troops of Sector 1, Operation Enduring Peace, supported by vigilantes and local hunters, apprehended 30-year-old Halima Ibrahim during an intelligence-led raid in Bassa Local Government Area. The operation, linked to the recent abduction of a medical doctor, led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, a locally fabricated revolver, and other military items.

Troops of Sector 1, Operation Enduring Peace, in collaboration with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and local hunters, have arrested a suspected gunrunner and recovered an AK-47 rifle, magazines and other military-related items in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. The operation was carried out on Friday, August 21, following intelligence linking the area to the recent abduction of a medical doctor, Dr Abraham Owoicho, who was kidnapped on August 19.

According to security sources who spoke to security analyst Zagazola Makama, troops moved into Kisayi and Dogon Daji settlements after receiving intelligence on the activities of suspected criminals operating in the communities. The troops, supported by local security volunteers and hunters, raided the settlements and searched identified locations.

Several male residents reportedly fled into the surrounding bush when they sighted the advancing security personnel, leaving women and children behind. A 30-year-old woman, identified as Halima Ibrahim, was however arrested while allegedly attempting to escape with two AK-47 rifle magazines. Following her arrest, troops cordoned off and searched her residence in Kisayi B Village.

The search reportedly led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, which investigators are working to trace to its source and determine its ownership. During preliminary questioning, the suspect allegedly told investigators that the rifle belonged to her husband, identified as Ibrahim. Troops also recovered a locally fabricated revolver pistol, a military jungle hat and three mobile phones from the residence. The suspect and the recovered items have been taken into military custody as investigations continue.

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The Nigerian Army has reiterated its commitment to conducting intelligence-driven operations to dismantle criminal networks involved in kidnapping, arms trafficking, and other violent crimes across the country. The operation in Plateau was part of broader efforts, with separate operations in Edo State leading to the rescue of a kidnapped victim.

According to security sources, investigators are working to establish the source of the firearms, the circumstances surrounding their possession and any possible links between the suspects and criminal networks operating in the area. The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to disrupt kidnapping networks and the illegal arms trade in Plateau State, particularly following recent abductions in Bassa Local Government Area. Further intelligence-driven operations are expected in the affected communities as security agencies continue investigations.

The arrest comes amid heightened security operations in Plateau State, where troops and other security agencies have intensified efforts to disrupt criminal networks. In a separate operation on August 19, troops of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace, recovered one AK-47 rifle, one locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, one locally fabricated revolver rifle, two Dane guns and 15 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during a raid in Mangu Local Government Area, following intelligence about a suspected attack on Mwar community. The military has also intensified operations across the state, with troops of Sector 6 arresting 19 suspects in Riyom Local Government Area following an ambush that killed two security operatives.

Troops Arrest Female Gunrunner, Recover AK-47 in Plateau

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Tinubu’s order: EFCC lifts freeze on Osun government accounts

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August 22, 2026

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Tinubu’s order: EFCC lifts freeze on Osun government accounts

Tinubu’s order: EFCC lifts freeze on Osun government accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has lifted the restriction on Osun State Government bank accounts after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the agency to vacate the order.

The affected accounts, held with First Bank of Nigeria and Zenith Bank, are now operational, according to confirmations from both the Presidency and an aide to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.

A Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, confirmed that the restriction had been removed, saying the EFCC could not disregard the President’s directive.

“The lien has been lifted. EFCC cannot ignore the presidential order. I can confirm to you that it was done immediately,” Ajayi said.

An aide to Governor Adeleke, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also confirmed that the Post No Debit (PND) restriction had been vacated and that the state government’s accounts were functioning again.

The EFCC had imposed the restriction on August 5, 2026, as part of an investigation into the alleged fraudulent handling of about N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The commission said the investigation had been ongoing since March 2026 and was aimed at preventing the alleged diversion of public funds.

The decision to restrict the accounts, however, generated significant controversy because it came shortly before the August 15 Osun State governorship election.

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The timing prompted allegations from the Osun State Government and its supporters that the EFCC action was politically motivated and intended to weaken Adeleke ahead of the election. The commission rejected the allegations and maintained that its action was connected to an ongoing financial investigation.

The dispute escalated after the President intervened and directed the EFCC to take steps to vacate the restriction.

Tinubu expressed concern about the timing of the action and its potential implications for public confidence in the electoral process, while also maintaining that anti-corruption agencies should carry out their responsibilities professionally.

The account restriction had also triggered a legal battle between the Osun State Government and the EFCC.

The state government approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the restriction and sought N2 billion in damages, arguing that the EFCC’s action unlawfully interfered with the state’s access to its funds.

The legal dispute changed following Tinubu’s intervention and the subsequent lifting of the restriction.

After being declared winner of the governorship election, Adeleke directed the Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, SAN, to withdraw the suit against the EFCC.

Adeleke said the President’s intervention had addressed the immediate dispute and that there was therefore no need to continue with the case.

With the accounts now operational, the immediate confrontation between the Osun State Government and the EFCC appears to have eased.

However, the lifting of the account restriction does not necessarily mean that the underlying investigation has been discontinued. The EFCC’s earlier allegations concerning the handling of about N11 billion remain separate from the decision to restore access to the accounts.

The development has also renewed discussions about the relationship between anti-corruption agencies and elected governments, particularly when financial investigations take place close to major elections.

For the Osun State Government, the restoration of access to its accounts removes an immediate financial constraint and allows the state to continue accessing funds required for government operations.

For the EFCC, the development means the financial investigation, if still ongoing, would have to proceed through the appropriate legal and investigative channels without the earlier account restriction.

Tinubu’s order: EFCC lifts freeze on Osun government accounts

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IPOB Accuses UK of Hypocrisy Over Israel Stance, Demands Kanu’s Release Following UN Ruling

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August 22, 2026

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IPOB Accuses UK of Hypocrisy Over Israel Stance, Demands Kanu's Release Following UN Ruling
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu

IPOB Accuses UK of Hypocrisy Over Israel Stance, Demands Kanu’s Release Following UN Ruling

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called out the British Government for what it describes as a “selective outrage” and double standards in applying international law, citing a United Nations ruling that its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was subjected to torture and extraordinary rendition.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the British Government of hypocrisy and applying international law selectively over its stance on Israel and the continued detention of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The group was reacting to recent comments by the British Foreign Secretary concerning real estate development in Jerusalem. IPOB’s spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, in a statement on Friday, said the group supports Israel and recognises Jerusalem as its “eternal and undivided capital”.

The group maintained that Britain lacks the moral authority to lecture Israel on international law while allegedly ignoring the findings and recommendations of United Nations human rights bodies concerning Kanu. According to IPOB, the United Nations Human Rights Council, acting under the UN General Assembly, has officially indicted Nigeria for what it described as gross violations of international law and fundamental norms in Kanu’s case. The group stated that the UN had determined that Kanu was subjected to torture and extraordinary rendition after being forcibly returned to Nigeria from Kenya in 2021, and the UN Working Group explicitly called for his immediate release and payment of compensation.

“These are not the words of IPOB. These are the findings of the highest international human rights bodies,” the statement emphasised. IPOB regretted that, rather than support this binding call for justice, Britain chose to assist Nigeria in defying international law. The group further lamented that the same Britain now lecturing Israel about international law turned a blind eye to the torture of a British citizen. “The same Britain invoking legal principles against our Israeli brothers and sisters actively helped Nigeria circumvent those very principles when it concerned Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” the statement said.

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IPOB also criticised the British Foreign Secretary’s position on Israel, describing it as entirely one-sided. The group accused the British Government of condemning Israel over construction near Jerusalem while allegedly failing to adequately address Palestinian terrorism, incitement, and the Palestinian Authority’s “pay for slay” policy. The group claimed that this policy of blaming only Israel while ignoring Palestinian extremism has contributed to a massive wave of antisemitic hatred against the British Jewish community.

IPOB vehemently rejected what it described as the patronising tone of the British government’s lectures, pointing out that the Jewish people have the right to live throughout the historic and Biblical land of Israel. “Jerusalem is Israel, and Israel is Jerusalem. The Balfour Declaration formally recognised this historic right more than a century ago,” the group said, adding that Britain, which still controls colonial territories thousands of miles from its shores, has no right to lecture the Jewish people about where they may live in their tiny historic homeland.

IPOB subsequently demanded what it described as consistency in Britain’s application of international law. The group called on the British Government to publicly support the UN findings concerning Kanu, demand his release and compensation from the Nigerian Government, and end what it described as the selective application of international law based on political convenience. “Britain must choose: respect international law for all, or be exposed as a hypocrite that uses law only as a weapon against its friends,” the statement concluded.

IPOB Accuses UK of Hypocrisy Over Israel Stance, Demands Kanu’s Release Following UN Ruling

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