TY Buratai Leads Condolence Delegation to Families of Late Lawrence Audu and Mary Mamman

TY Buratai Leads Condolence Delegation to Families of Late Lawrence Audu and Mary Mamman

Charity Onah

In a heartfelt show of humility and communal solidarity, former Chief of Army Staff and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), on Wednesday led a high-powered delegation on condolence visits to the families of the late Lawrence Audu Bilal and Mrs. Mary Madu Mamman.

READ ALSO: Buratai Lauded by Top African Literature Scholar for Honouring Ekwensi

The visit, which took place in Abuja, drew notable figures including Major General Bulama Biu (rtd), Dr. Abubakar Sani, publisher of OurNigeria News, Professor Naomi John Dadi-Mahmud, and Om’Oba Jerry Adesewo, Editor-in-Chief of OurNigeria News and an Abuja-based theatre maker.

Until his untimely death on February 4, 2024, in Ibadan, Lawrence Audu was the Defence Correspondent for OurNigeria News and Editor-in-Chief of North East Star Magazine. A trusted ally and collaborator of Ambassador Buratai, Audu was scheduled to join him on a professional trip to New York before his sudden passing, a loss that deeply shook his immediate and professional communities.

During his visit, Ambassador Buratai paid tribute to Audu’s widow, Mrs. Linda Bilal Audu, describing her late husband as “hardworking, responsible, and resourceful.”

“That was what endeared him to me. I love people who are committed to their duty, and Lawrence was not just a colleague — he was a friend and a brother. I will surely miss him,” Buratai said.

A particularly poignant moment came as the General cradled Lawrence Jr., the couple’s newborn son, who was born just a day after Audu’s death. Observers described a heavy silence — a solemn gesture that said, “I wish I could bring your father back.”

Earlier, the delegation visited the home of Mrs. Mary Madu Mamman, who passed away on April 27, 2025. She was the President of the Bura Women Development Association (BUWDA) and an advocate for women and children’s development — a cause she shared with Ambassador Buratai through their mutual engagements.

“What can I say about her that you don’t already know?” Buratai said, addressing her grieving husband, Mr. Madu Mamman, former MD of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. “She had such an incredible journey, and I have no doubt that, if given more time, she would have continued to contribute immensely to her society.”

General Buratai’s visits underscore his well-known commitment to civil-military relations, a principle he championed throughout his military service. His gestures of empathy and solidarity left a lasting impression, reminding all that leadership is not only about command, but compassion.

May the souls of Lawrence Audu and Mary Mamman rest in perfect peace.

TY Buratai Leads Condolence Delegation to Families of Late Lawrence Audu and Mary Mamman