‘What he said is not true” – Al-Mustapha dismisses ex-DSS operative’s Abacha death claims
Former Chief Security Officer Denies Claims About General Abacha’s Last Moments
KADUNA, Nigeria — Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha (retired), the former Chief Security Officer to the late military ruler Gen. Sani Abacha, has rejected recent assertions made by Dennis Amachree, a former operative with the Department of State Services (DSS), regarding Abacha’s final moments.
Amachree, who served as an assistant director during Abacha’s regime, detailed his account in a newly released book. His claims about the late general’s last hours have sparked a range of reactions from former officials and social media users.
Speaking to reporters after a Memorial Conference for General Hassan Usman Katsina at Arewa House on Saturday, Al-Mustapha described Amachree’s narrative as false. He encouraged the public to dismiss the claims, labeling them as fabrications not reflective of actual events.
“The boy was asked by others to write those lies. I have all the CCTV footage of what happened in my custody, so what he said is not true,” Al-Mustapha stated. While he claimed to possess evidence that contradicts Amachree’s account, he did not provide details about the footage or whether he intends to release it.
Al-Mustapha emphasized the importance of refraining from making allegations against deceased individuals who cannot defend themselves. “Just ignore his lies. It’s bad to say such things about someone who is dead,” he remarked.
Abacha, who came to power in a military coup on November 17, 1993, ruled Nigeria until his sudden death on June 8, 1998, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The Federal Government attributed his passing to a sudden illness; however, the circumstances surrounding his death remain one of Nigeria’s most controversial political mysteries.
Over the years, conflicting narratives have emerged from former military officers, intelligence operatives, and political figures, with various publications offering differing accounts of the events leading to Abacha’s demise. Al-Mustapha, who was among Abacha’s closest aides, has consistently refuted allegations and narratives he believes misrepresent the late head of state or the historical context of that period.
