She met Muhammadu Buhari at the age of 14 and they married in 1971 when she was 18. They had 5 children namely; Zulaihatu (deceased), Magajiya-Fatima, Hadizatu-Nana, Safinatu Lami and Musa (deceased). When Muhammadu Buhari's government was overthrown by
Ibrahim Babangida, she relocated to Kaduna with her children. Following the military coup that removed Muhammadu Buhari as president on 27 August 1985, when he was released from prison, he divorced Safinatu shortly after; the reason for Buhari's divorce from his first wife has remained unknown. However, it is rumored that Safinatu was accused of receiving financial assistance from Babangida while her husband was imprisoned despite her husband's warning. Safinatu Buhari was diagnosed with diabetes in 1998 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Her style was both traditional and minimal. It portrayed her ethnic origin. They divorced in 1988. She was largely unknown by Nigerians as she did not have her own office or personal staff in
Dodan Barracks. She stayed out of the public eye but took up responsibility hosting visiting First Ladies. == Death ==