Fatima Buhari, daughter of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed that her father at one point suspected his office in the Presidential Villa was under secret surveillance.
The disclosure comes in a new book, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, authored by Dr Charles Omole, Director-General of the Institute for Police and Security Policy Research, which was unveiled in Abuja on Monday.
According to Fatima, the former president’s suspicion led them to communicate through written notes rather than speaking aloud. On some occasions, Buhari feared conversations in his office were being monitored, prompting unusual precautions during their interactions.
She recalled one encounter where her father avoided speaking altogether, instead relying on gestures to indicate they should write their messages. “He touched his cheek, like he had a toothache, and signalled that we shouldn’t talk. We wrote notes to each other, like spies in a film,” she said.
Fatima explained that Buhari believed listening devices had been planted in his office and cautioned her to remain vigilant, noting that he himself remained constantly on guard. The book portrays these actions not as theatrics, but as coping mechanisms in an environment where trust was fragile and privacy uncertain.
More concerning, the account suggests Buhari appeared resigned to the situation, despite his position as Commander-in-Chief. Fatima questioned the influence of those suspected of installing the devices, often referred to as “the cabal” particularly as the alleged surveillance occurred within the highly secured Presidential Villa.
The book also notes that some security chiefs who served under Buhari later confirmed that unusual objects were frequently found in his office and bedroom during routine security sweeps, though how they reached these restricted areas remained unclear. Fatima described the atmosphere within the Villa as deeply unsettling, at times bordering on what she called “diabolical.”
“We’re Africans. We know supernatural powers,” she said, declining to elaborate on certain incidents, adding that some matters were best left to divine judgment.
Fatima explained that Buhari’s personal disposition shaped how he managed such situations. Age and faith, she said, had softened him, making him less inclined to confront or publicly disgrace those around him, even when trust was compromised.
“He understands people’s histories—their parents, their families—and he doesn’t want to destroy hope,” she said. She added that once Buhari placed trust in someone, it was difficult for him to withdraw it without overwhelming proof, preferring quiet corrections and warnings over sackings or public humiliation.
Fatima also recounted living in constant fear for her father’s safety, suggesting that there were occasions when attempts were made to harm him. “There were attempts. Harm was done, but his time was not yet,” she said, without providing further details.
To manage perceived threats, she said Buhari sometimes publicly reprimanded her to give the impression of distance, even though he would privately reach out to reassure her and her children. “I cried in front of them, but deep inside, he would call me and the kids,” she recalled.
