Ka kammala wannan jumla: An hambarar da shi kuma aka kashe shi a cikin wani
juyin mulkin soja a ranar 15 ga Janairu, 1966, kamar yadda wasu shugabannin suka yi, ciki har da tsohon abokin aikinsa Sir Ahmadu Bello. Har yanzu ba a bayyana dalilin mutuwarsa ba. An gano gawarsa a gefen hanya kusa da Legas kwana shida bayan an hambarar da shi daga ofis. An binne Balewa a Bauchi. Labarin kisan nasa ya haifar da tashin hankali a duk Arewacin Najeriya kuma daga karshe ya haifar da zubar da jini a watan Yulin 1966.