Buhari mourns death of man who found Balewa’s body

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the family of  Ibrahim Babankowa on the death the retired police commissioner of defunct Gongola state, who found the corpse of the late Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa after the first military coup in 1966.

Babankowa, who was aged 79, led the team of police officers who discovered the corpse of the late prime minister in a bush in Lagos.

Originally from Jigawa state, the deceased lived in Kano, where he died. He is survived by three wives, nine children and grandchildren.

According to Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman,  Buhari joins the family in mourning the retired commissioner of police, who he says, “will be long remembered for the role he played in crushing the Maitatsine uprising of 1980 and his discovery of the body of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa after the January 15, 1966 coup d’etat.

“The president who had a long and close association with Alhaji Babankowa believes that even in death, he will remain a model of integrity and steadfastness to all who knew him.”

Similarly, Buhari extended his personal condolences to the family of Jibrin Ahmed, the celebrated farmer and bookseller who also died recently.

“The president is saddened by the death of Ahmed with whom he also had a close relationship over many years, and greatly respected for his exemplary humility and belief in the dignity of labour,” the statement read.

“President Buhari will forever treasure his memories of Ahmed as one of the most hardworking and humble Nigerians he has had the privilege of knowing.

“He prays that Almighty Allah will grant Babankowa and Ahmed eternal rest,  and comfort their grieving families, friends and associates.”