Nigeria’s ‘Most Practical’ Army Intelligence Officer, Abdulahi Muhammad, Dies At 86…What You Need To Know About Him

Abdulahi Muhammed, a retired General, who was arguably the ‘most practical’ army intelligence officer in Nigeria, is dead.

He died on Wednesday at the age of 86.

Away from theory, the late Abdulahi Muhammad ensured a real-life application of the requirements of a true army intelligence officer while he was a serving military officer and even after his retirement.

As the Director of Military Intelligence, he played a key role in the coup that got retired General Yakubu Gowon removed from office in 1975 and he was later appointed as Military Governor of Benue-Plateau State by Late General Muritala Muhammad.

Following the death of Muritala Muhammad in February 1976 which led to his emergence as the new Military Head of State, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo took steps to strengthen internal security and came up with the idea of establishing the Nigerian Security Organization (NSO) and Abdulahi Muhammad was appointed as its first Director General.

Abdulahi Muhammad retired from the Nigerian Army when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo handed over power to late Alhaji Shehu Shagari on October 1, 1979. The NSO had since given birth to Department of State Services (DSS), Defence Intelligence Service (DIS), and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). 

Following his retirement, he had made Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, his base and he had a printing company located in the Oko-Erin area of Ilorin called Atoto Press Limited, while he was also the Chairman of the board of the defunct Trade Bank Plc.

After the death of General Sani Abacha in 1998, the new Head of State, retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar appointed Abdulahi Muhammad as National Security Adviser while Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who had returned as civilian president in 1999, appointed the late Abdulahi Muhammad as Chief of Staff, State House, Abuja .

When Obasanjo left office in 2007, his successor, Alhaji  Umaru Musa Yar’Adua retained him as Chief of Staff and he remained the presidential gatekeeper until his resignation in June 2008.

An Uncommon Army Intelligence Officer

The late General Abdulahi Muhammad ensured a real-life application of the requirements of a true army intelligence officer while he was a serving military officer and after his retirement.

As the Director of Army Intelligence, Director General of NSO, and even as Chief of Staff, Presidency, no one was given total freedom to take his pictures at events. Even in retirement, he hardly attended social events that are considered ‘classy’, he majorly attended weddings and fidaus and his pictures are rarely taken.

Publisher of Newbreed magazine, Chief Chris Okolie, who was a friend to the then Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, late General Musa Yaradua  had produced an edition of the magazine that had Abdulahi Muhammad’s picture on its front page and also had an article titled ‘A Harvest of Generals’ which focused on promotions within the army.

Okolie was not only picked up by the army the copies of the magazine that was printed in UK were also seized by the military government.

The late General Abdulahi Muhammad also refused to accept chieftaincy titles from monarchs including Ilorin , his hometown.

And All The Three Jolly Friends Are Now Gone

Late General Abdulahi Muhammadu Alhaji Ayinla Umaru Saro and Sheikh Abdullahi Qudus Alfa Koro were childhood friends and they maintained the friendship until they left the planet earth.

While Alhaji Umaru Saro, who was until his death the Sardauna of Ilorin, died in January 2021, Sheikh Abdullahi Qudus Alfa Koro departed the world on November 28, 2018.

His Close Shave With Death

Retired General Abdulahi Muhammad had a close shave with death in May 2007 and he was lucky to have survived the assassination attempt as a result of his spartan lifestyle.

As the Chief of Staff , State House, Abuja, he had visited Ilorin to attend a walimatul nikkah and being a family friend, the late General had spent quality time with people at the venue.

He however returned home in another car unknown to him that some people had waited in ambush at his residence they did not however know that he was inside the car that had arrived earlier.

His son, Shittu, who had arrived in a considered luxurious car was not that lucky as they opened fire on the vehicle.

A DSS officer was shot dead while Shittu also sustained gunshot wounds, he was rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and later taken to Abuja from where he left for Germany and he was lucky to have come out unscathed–Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you