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20 years after Abacha died, check out 12 things in the late dictator’s life

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3 years ago

July 3, 2022

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Twenty years after he died of what was officially reported as heart attack, former head of state and Nigeria military dictator general Sani Abacha is still remembered, notably for some key things that occurred during his regime.

Here are some key events in the late dictator’s life as follows:

1. Sani Abacha was born in Kano state on September 20, 1943

2. He passed out of the Nigerian Military Training Centre in Kaduna, receiving further training in the UK in in 1963.

3. He married Maryam Jiddah in 1965 and the couple went on to have 10 children. One of them later died.

4. Abacha fought for Nigeria duing the civil war against Biafran secessionists from 1967-72.

5. In 1983, he played a significant role in the December 31 coup that toppled the civilian government of President Shehu Shagari. General Muhammadu Buhari is installed as military ruler.

6. Abacha in 1985, supported the overthrow of Buhari and the installation of General Ibrahim Babangida. He was promoted to major general.

7. In August 1993, Abacha was appointed minister of Defence after Babangida who had annulled result of the election stepped down. An interim government headed by civilian president, Ernest Shonekan was installed.

8. On November 17, 1993, Shonekan resigned and transferred power to Abacha.

9. in 1994, Moshood Abiola, presumed election winner declared himself president and is imprisoned.

10. In 1995, the Abacha regime executed the Ogoni nine environmentalists who were protesting against the activity of the government and oil giant Shell. Among them was Ken Saro-Wiwa.

11. In I996, Abacha was elected chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

12. On June 8,1998, Abacha died from a suspected heart attack and was buried the same day.

Meanwhile, this story circulating in the media was ascribed to Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of General Sani Abacha who was Nigeria’s military Head of State from November 1993 to June 1998.