General Muhammed’s tomb not a sight to behold

2026-02-13 - 07:39

This report presents the decrepit state of the tomb of the late head of state, in Kano. By Bashir Bello KANO – Located in Hausawa, near Tudun Maliki in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State, is Masallacin Murtala, a popular mosque named after Nigeria’s former Head of State, late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed. Within the mosque premises, which is said to be the third oldest major mosque built in Kano, lies the tomb of the late general and fourth head of state. GENERAL MUHAMMED’S TOMB The segment or portion which was carved out within the compound of the mosque to house the tomb of the late general, also accommodates his mother, brother and his son, Zakari. The picture tells the story. It was gathered that the farmland where the late head of state was laid to rest belonged to his uncle, late Magajin Garin Kano, Inuwa Wada. However, aside from the name Masallacin Murtala and inscription at a corner of the building which housed the tomb, nothing visibly indicates to a first-time visitor that the mosque houses the tomb of one of Nigeria’s most celebrated leaders. Many believe that considering late General Mohammed’s status as a former head of state, the mosque and grave site falls short of expectations and remain an eyesore, lacking the befitting treatment of a monument to immortalise the late leader. Speaking with Vanguard, the Chief Imam of the mosque, Kabir Badamasi Dan-Taura said the facility requires constant rehabilitation to meet modern standards. Dan-Taura said the rehabilitation of the facility should be a non stop thing but should be from time to time. According to him, “the late general was a religious person. Upon his death the then Emir, late Ado Bayero decided that his corpse be laid to rest at his brother’s farm. Afterwards, the construction of the mosque commenced and was commissioned in 1981. The Wazirin Kano, Isa Waziri was the first Imam of the mosque. After spending about 20 years, he was succeeded by Sheikh Tijjani Tukur while I’m the third.”