Former Senator Shehu Sani believes Nigeria is still haunted by the brutal killing of former Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, popularly known as Sardauna of Sokoto, and others in 1966, 59 years ago.

In a post shared on his social media page on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, Sani stated that Bello sacrificed everything for his people and his country but died a materially poor man.

Sani pointed out that no house, vehicle, or company could be traced to Bello’s name or any of his family members in Kaduna, where he lived, led and was brutally murdered. He added that after he was killed, his belongings were taken to his family home in Sokoto.

He wrote, “For those of us in Kaduna, where the Late Premier of Northern Nigeria lived, led and was brutally murdered, we couldn’t yet find any house, vehicle, or company traced to his name or any of his family members.

“After he was killed, his belongings were taken to his family home in Sokoto.

“The late Sardauna did everything for his people and his country and died a materially poor man.

“His murder and that of others in 1966 was the seed of evil that continues to haunt our country.

“May the souls of all the victims of the 1966 coup rest in peace. Ameen.”

On January 15, 1966, Bello was assassinated during a coup led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, a coup that collapsed Nigeria's post-independence government.

Bello was still serving as premier of Northern Nigeria at the time of his assassination. The coup was the first in the history of Nigeria, which heralded the rise of the military regime in Nigeria’s politics.

Also assassinated in the coup was Bello’s longtime friend, Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, alongside many political elites in the northern and western regions of Nigeria.

For those of us in Kaduna where the Late Premier of Northern Nigeria lived,led and was brutally murdered,we couldn’t yet find any house,vehicle or company traced to his name or any of his family members.After he was killed,his belongings were taken to his family home in… pic.twitter.com/WfBOPMHIOQ

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) January 15, 2025