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37-yr Old Nigerian Head Of State Murtala Muhammed Was Shot Dead In His Mercedes 46-yrs Ago
37-yr old Nigerian Head of State Murtala Muhammed was fatally shot in his unarmoured Mercedes S-Class 46-yrs ago.
Had he used an armoured vehicle, both local and international observers believed he would have survived the assassination attempt.
The bullet-riddled Mercedes that Murtala Muhammed was shot in is currently displayed at the National Museum.
The well-maintained S-Class limousine with over 20 bullet holes reportedly attracts 2000 tourists monthly.
It’s been 46 years, on 13 February, since 37 year old Nigerian Head of State General Murtala Ramat Muhammed was fatally shot in his official unarmoured Mercedes-Benz W115 limousine.
Murtala Muhammed was on his way to work along his usual route on George Street in Lagos when his black Mercedes-Benz was ambushed by a group of soldiers, who were members of an abortive coup led by Lieutenant Colonel Buka Suka Dimka.
During his brief seven months stint as the 4th Head of State of Nigerian, Murtala Muhammed hardly traveled in a heavily guarded Presidential Convoy.
So his love for traveling in non-armoured vehicles and a heavily guarded convoy led to the successful elimination of the General by Bukar Suka Dimka-led coupist.
Murtala was killed along with his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa. The only visible sign of protection was a pistol carried by his orderly, making his assassination an easy task.
Had he used an armoured vehicle, both local and international observers believed that Murtala would have survived the bullets that pearced his unarmoured Mercedes-Benz W115 limousine.
The bullet riddled black unarmoured Mercedes-Benz W115 limousine (S-Class) that Murtala Muhammed was fatally shot in is currently displayed at the National Museum, Lagos.
According to reports, the well-maintained limousine with over 20 bullet holes attracts 2000 tourists monthly.
