See The List Of Nigerian Presidents Who Died While Still In Office

The List Below are of leaders who died while they where still in office;

1. Alh Tafawa Balewa (Assassinated on January 15, 1966)

Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s first prime minister was murdered in the July 1966 coup.

2. Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi (Assassinated on July 29, 1966)

Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi was murdered in a counter coup in just 6 months after taking over from Tafawa Balewa as Nigeria’s Head of State 

3. Gen. Murtala Muhammed (Assassinated on Feb 13, 1976)

37-year-old Gen. Murtala Muhammed was murdered in Lagos while on his way to work in a failed coup attempt. He was in office as Nigeria’s 4th head of state for barely 7 months.

4. Gen. Sani Abacha (Died of Natural Causes on June 8, 1998)

Believed to be Nigeria’s most brutal head of state and dictator, Gen Sani Abacha was reported to have died of natural causes in 1998. However, some people believe that he was actually murdered by his own henchmen using a poisoned apple that triggered a heart attack.

5. Umar Musa Yar’Adua (Died of Natural Causes on May 5, 2010)

Katsina state born Umar Musa Yar’Adua was reported to have died of natural causes in a hospital outside Nigeria in 2010. His unfortunate death generated a lot of debate over who will succeed him in office pushing Nigeria to the brink.