- Emir of Zuru, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Sani Sami (rtd), passes away at 81 in London.
- Former military administrator, war veteran, and cultural leader remembered for national service.
- President Tinubu and VP Shettima pay glowing tributes to the late monarch.
The Emir of Zuru in Kebbi State, His Royal Highness Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Sani Sami (rtd), Gomo II, has passed on at the age of 81.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the revered monarch reportedly died in a London hospital on Saturday following a brief illness. His death was confirmed by the Kebbi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Garba Umar-Dutsinmari, in a statement issued on Sunday.
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He is survived by four wives and seven children.
The late Emir’s life was marked by distinguished military and traditional leadership. A native of Kebbi, he joined the Nigerian Army on December 10, 1962, and was commissioned in July 1963 after completing officer training at the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England.
Throughout his military career, he held numerous key positions, including Commandant of the elite Brigade of Guards, Military Administrator of Bauchi State (1984–1985), and General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 1 Mechanised Division in 1988.
He also played an active role in Nigeria’s Civil War and was lauded for leading the military operation that repelled Chadian troops from Borno State during a border crisis.
The retired General bowed out of active service on September 3, 1990, and ascended the throne of Zuru in 1995 following the death of Emir Usman Danga. His turbaning was formalised in 1996, becoming the 11th Emir of Zuru.
As a traditional ruler, the Emir was widely respected for promoting peaceful coexistence, community development, and cultural preservation. Under his stewardship, the Uhola Festival an annual celebration of the Zuru people’s heritage gained national recognition and was inscribed in Nigeria’s official cultural calendar.
Alhaji Abdullahi Idris Zuru, Sadaukin Zuru, said preparations were underway to return the Emir’s remains from London for burial.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed sorrow over the Emir’s passing, describing it as “a great national loss.” In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President extolled the Emir’s contributions to Nigeria’s unity and traditional leadership.
“Nigeria will remember his outstanding service both in uniform and on the throne,” Tinubu said. “I pray that Almighty Allah grants him eternal rest and comforts his family, the Zuru Emirate, and Kebbi State.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima also mourned the late Emir, noting his unique legacy that merged military professionalism with royal wisdom.
“When a giant Iroko falls, the landscape itself is changed. Major General Sami wasn’t just a traditional ruler or a soldier. He was a bridge between Nigeria’s heritage of disciplined leadership and the enduring values of traditional governance,” Shettima said.
He praised the Emir’s “strategic mindset and disciplined leadership” that brought a new level of administrative order to the Zuru Emirate.
At the time of filing this report, official details concerning the return and burial of the Emir were still being awaited. However, family sources indicate arrangements are ongoing to bring his remains back from the United Kingdom.
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