The Nigerian Leader Who Had A Target On His Back

What this episode covers

A 37-year-old Hausa-Fulani military officer from Kano, he came to power in a bloodless coup and was assassinated in a Lagos traffic ambush led by Lt. Col. Buka Suka Dimka exactly 33 days after delivering his famous "Africa Has Come of Age" speech at the OAU, in which he directly confronted the United States over Angola. Declassified US State Department documents reveal that Washington viewed Murtala as "erratic, vainglorious, impetuous, corrupt, vindictive, intelligent, articulate, daring" and that American intelligence-gathering on Nigeria intensified dramatically during his tenure.This is Episode 4 of Power & Plunder — a 16-part series covering every head of state Nigeria has had since independence. Built on declassified British and American archives, court records, and primary sources.My Sources:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VCKhBbuhG0-LFqfizrNL75S0H0PAiicW2GsuLgxdMlI/edit?usp=sharing

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How long is this episode of Declassified?

This episode is 45 minutes long.

When was this Declassified episode published?

This episode was published on May 17, 2026.

What is this episode about?

A 37-year-old Hausa-Fulani military officer from Kano, he came to power in a bloodless coup and was assassinated in a Lagos traffic ambush led by Lt. Col. Buka Suka Dimka exactly 33 days after delivering his famous "Africa Has Come of Age" speech at...

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