Half a century after the assassination of Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, a firsthand account has emerged from the lone survivor of the deadly ambush that claimed the military leader’s life.
Michael Otuwe, a retired Master Warrant Officer who served as Muhammed’s orderly, has broken his silence with a deeply personal recollection of the February 13, 1976 attack that cut short the leadership of one of Nigeria’s most celebrated military rulers.
In an interview originally conducted with Daily Trust a decade ago and now revisited to mark the 50th anniversary, Otuwe provided chilling details of the morning when gunmen disguised in flowing agbada robes opened fire on their vehicle near Alagbon Junction in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The attack killed General Muhammed, his aide-de-camp, and their driver. Otuwe, struck by bullets in his arm and hip, was left for dead and transported to a mortuary. He miraculously regained consciousness when the cold air from an air conditioner revived him, leading to his emergency transfer for medical care.
“I was the only survivor,” Otuwe said, his voice still heavy with emotion five decades later.
A Decade of Service
Otuwe’s relationship with Muhammed began in 1967 when he enlisted at the Ikeja Military Cantonment in Lagos on the brink of Nigeria’s Civil War. Assigned to the Signal Corps, he caught the attention of then-Colonel Muhammed, who personally selected him as his orderly based on his discipline and sharp appearance during military parades.
For 11 years, Otuwe remained at Muhammed’s side, including during intense combat operations when his commander became the first General Officer Commanding of the Second Division. He described Muhammed as a tactically brilliant and deeply disciplined leader committed to preserving Nigeria’s unity.
Among the memories Otuwe shared was a harrowing ambush at Ukpo Junction in Abagana during the war, where Muhammed’s strategic withdrawal reportedly reversed their fortunes on the battlefield.
A Leader Who Walked Among the People
Beyond military exploits, Otuwe revealed a lesser-known side of the Head of State—his habit of moving incognito through Lagos markets to monitor inflation and the cost of living. Dressed in a tracksuit and face cap, Muhammed would visit markets across Lagos Island, Ajegunle, and Agege while aides quietly recorded commodity prices.
Weeks after one such visit, imported meat flooded Nigerian markets at affordable rates, earning the popular nickname “Murtala Meat” among grateful residents.
Life After Tragedy
Following six months of recovery from his injuries, Otuwe returned to active duty and served until his retirement on December 31, 1999. Now living in Maraba, Nasarawa State, the retired soldier says he has received no formal recognition or honors for his years of service and sacrifice.
Despite everything, Otuwe insists he harbors no regrets about his time in the Nigerian Army or his years serving under General Muhammed—a leader whose life was violently cut short exactly 50 years ago today.
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