Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd.), who formerly served as Chief Security Officer to late Gen. Sani Abacha, has officially disputed the narrative provided by retired DSS official Dennis Amachree regarding the military ruler’s final hours. Amachree recently published a book detailing his version of events, which prompted significant public discussion.
Speaking at a memorial event in Kaduna, Al-Mustapha dismissed the allegations as entirely fabricated. He claimed to possess CCTV records from that time that refute the author’s assertions, asserting that Amachree was encouraged by others to propagate falsehoods. While Al-Mustapha did not specify if he would release this footage, he firmly advised the public to disregard the account.
He further noted that it is improper to make unfounded claims about a deceased individual. General Abacha, who led Nigeria after a 1993 coup, passed away at the Presidential Villa in 1998. The official cause was reported as sudden illness, though the incident remains a major point of debate in Nigerian political history, with various conflicting reports persisting decades later.
