Abdulsalami Breaks Silence on Abiola’s Death, Says Autopsy Ruled Out Poisoning

Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has dismissed longstanding allegations that the late Chief MKO Abiola was poisoned, insisting that medical investigations conducted after the business mogul’s death concluded that he died of natural causes.

Abdulsalami made the revelation in Chapter 21 of his newly launched autobiography, Call of Duty, which was unveiled on Saturday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during events marking his 84th birthday.

The 264-page memoir provides fresh insight into the death of MKO Abiola, widely regarded as the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, as well as other key events that shaped Nigeria’s transition from military rule to democracy.

According to Abdulsalami, allegations that Abiola was poisoned are not supported by available medical evidence. He stated that the family of the late politician requested an autopsy after his death and that a team of American, British, Nigerian and Canadian pathologists was assembled to conduct the examination.

“I do not believe Abiola was poisoned. The family requested an autopsy and we assembled American, British, Nigerian and Canadian pathologists to conduct it. The autopsy report attributed his death to natural causes,” he wrote.

The former military leader explained that Abiola had been dealing with health challenges long before his death, including hypertension and a heart-related condition. He referenced a radiology report dated September 28, 1994, prepared by Colonel (Dr.) O. Awofeso, then Chief Consultant Radiologist at the Nigerian Army Defence Hospital, Sokoto, which reportedly showed that Abiola had an enlarged heart and signs of hypertensive cardiac disease.

Abdulsalami recounted that Abiola died on July 7, 1998, while meeting a visiting United States delegation led by then Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Tom Pickering, and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Susan Rice.

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Drawing from Rice’s memoir, Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For, Abdulsalami said Abiola began coughing shortly after the meeting started. Rice reportedly noticed that Abiola’s ankles were swollen and that his coughing became increasingly severe during the discussion.

As his condition worsened, Abiola complained that he felt unusually warm and requested stronger air conditioning. A doctor was summoned and reportedly concluded that he was suffering a heart attack.

Abdulsalami also cited Pickering’s account of the incident, in which the diplomat recalled that Abiola developed breathing difficulties after visiting the restroom and appeared visibly distressed. According to Pickering, Abiola was moved to a couch, removed his shirt and asked for more ventilation before medical personnel arrived.

“A doctor arrived within 10 minutes and called for immediate hospital attention. We all helped to put him in a car. There was no ambulance immediately available. We followed him to the clinic of the Head of State of Nigeria, where doctors immediately began to work on him, but unfortunately their efforts were unsuccessful,” Pickering was quoted as saying.

The retired general recalled receiving the shocking news from his Chief Security Officer, Abdulrasheed Aliyu, who accompanied the American officials to the meeting.

“Aliyu, my CSO, called me. As soon as I picked, he said, in a shaky voice, that there was a problem. I asked: ‘What problem again?’ He said Abiola was dead. My head went blank,” Abdulsalami wrote.

He added that informing Abiola’s family was one of the most difficult moments of the ordeal, noting that one of Abiola’s daughters became overwhelmed with emotion and had to be comforted by Susan Rice.

One of the most significant revelations in the memoir is Abdulsalami’s claim that efforts to secure Abiola’s release were already underway before his sudden death. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who spoke at the public presentation of the book, confirmed that discussions regarding Abiola’s freedom had reached an advanced stage.

According to Obasanjo, Abdulsalami had maintained communication with members of the Abiola family, while Abiola’s son, Kola Abiola, was already in Abuja as arrangements for his father’s release progressed. The disclosure is likely to reignite debate over one of the most controversial chapters in Nigeria’s political history.

Abdulsalami argued that permitting the American delegation access to Abiola ultimately helped dispel conspiracy theories surrounding his death.

“If we had not allowed the American delegation to see him and he had died in custody, it would have been a different story. It would have been insinuated that he had long died and we were trying to cover it up,” he stated.

The former Head of State also disclosed that former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida never discussed the annulment of the June 12 election with him. According to Abdulsalami, despite widespread assumptions that he was involved in the decision-making process, he only learned about the annulment like many other Nigerians.

The retired general also used the memoir to refute allegations that he received $500 million following the death of General Sani Abacha.

“I want to put it on record that nobody gave me $500 million or any amount, bigger or smaller.

“Is it possible to collect half a billion dollars in cash and only one person in the world would know about it?” he asked.

He described the allegation as baseless and lacking any factual foundation.

Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12 election, remained in detention after declaring himself president in 1994. His death on July 7, 1998, barely a month after the death of General Sani Abacha, triggered widespread speculation and controversy, with many Nigerians believing he was prevented from reclaiming the mandate many considered rightfully his.

Abdulsalami later assumed leadership of the country and oversaw Nigeria’s transition to democratic rule, eventually handing over power to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999.

With the release of Call of Duty, Abdulsalami has offered one of the most detailed insider accounts yet of the events surrounding MKO Abiola’s death, the June 12 crisis, and Nigeria’s return to democracy.

Abdulsalami Breaks Silence on Abiola’s Death, Says Autopsy Ruled Out Poisoning

Katsina Police Foil Bandit Attack, Rescue 9 Kidnapped Passengers

Operatives of the Katsina State Police Command have rescued nine passengers abducted by suspected bandits along the Katsina-Kankara highway following a fierce gun battle that forced the attackers to flee.

The incident occurred on Thursday, June 12, 2026, at about 2:30 p.m. when armed bandits reportedly blocked the road at Tashar Kanya village in Kankara Local Government Area and intercepted a red commercial Volkswagen Golf III saloon car conveying 11 passengers from Dandume to Katsina.

Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said the bandits forcefully abducted the occupants of the vehicle before security operatives launched a swift rescue operation.

According to the police spokesperson, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Kankara Division immediately mobilised a team of officers, including personnel of the Violent Crime Rescue Unit (VCRU), to the scene after receiving a distress report.

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The operatives engaged the criminals in a fierce exchange of gunfire, compelling them to abandon most of their captives and escape into the surrounding forest.

DSP Aliyu stated that the security team’s superior firepower and tactical manoeuvres played a crucial role in the successful rescue of the victims.

The command disclosed that nine kidnapped passengers were rescued unharmed during the operation.

However, two individuals identified as Buhari Kabir and the vehicle driver, Aliyu, popularly known as “Maitakabari,” remain missing.

Police authorities said an intensive search-and-rescue operation is currently underway to locate and safely recover the remaining victims while efforts are being intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

The latest breakthrough highlights ongoing efforts by the Katsina Police Command and other security agencies to combat banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes across the state.

In recent months, security operatives have recorded several successes against criminal groups operating in parts of Katsina State, rescuing abducted victims, recovering stolen property, and disrupting bandit hideouts through intelligence-led operations.

Commending the officers involved in the rescue mission, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Umar Fage, praised their bravery, professionalism, and dedication to duty.

He reassured residents of the command’s unwavering commitment to securing lives and property and urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information that would aid ongoing security operations.

The police chief further emphasized that the command remains determined to rid Katsina State of criminal elements and ensure that those responsible for violent crimes are brought to justice.

Katsina Police Foil Bandit Attack, Rescue 9 Kidnapped Passengers

DSS Foils Arms Delivery to Zamfara Bandits, Arrests Suspect in Kano

ABUJA, NIGERIA – Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against banditry and arms trafficking following the arrest of a suspected arms courier allegedly transporting weapons intended for delivery to a notorious bandit leader operating in Zamfara State.

According to an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, the suspect was arrested on Friday during an intelligence-led operation in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

Security sources disclosed that the operation was carried out following actionable intelligence that exposed the movement of a cache of weapons and ammunition suspected to be destined for criminal groups operating in the North-West.

The report stated that the suspect was intercepted while allegedly transporting the arms consignment from Maigatari Local Government Area of Jigawa State to Funtua in Katsina State, from where the weapons were expected to be delivered to armed groups linked to bandit activities.

Items recovered from the suspect included three AK-47 rifles, four rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) tubes and warheads, as well as two empty magazines.

Security experts describe the recovery of RPG launch tubes as particularly significant because such weapons possess greater destructive capability than conventional firearms commonly used by criminal groups. Their presence in the shipment has raised concerns about the growing sophistication of weapons being circulated among armed gangs operating in parts of northern Nigeria.

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Preliminary investigations reportedly linked the recovered weapons to a suspected bandit kingpin believed to be coordinating criminal operations from parts of Zamfara State, one of the regions most affected by banditry, mass abductions, cattle rustling, and attacks on rural communities.

According to the report, the suspect allegedly confessed during preliminary interrogation that he had been contracted to transport the weapons and was promised a payment of N450,000 upon successful delivery.

“The suspect confessed that he was contracted to transport the weapons from Maigatari to Funtua and was promised a payment of N450,000 upon successful delivery,” the report stated.

Investigators are now working to uncover the wider criminal network behind the operation, including the suppliers, financiers, transport coordinators, and intended recipients of the weapons.

Security officials believe the arrest could provide valuable intelligence capable of exposing major logistics and supply chains sustaining armed bandit groups across the North-West.

The latest seizure comes amid intensified efforts by security agencies to dismantle the logistics networks that enable terrorist groups, bandits, kidnappers, and other organised criminal gangs to acquire weapons and ammunition.

In recent months, security agencies have increased intelligence-driven operations targeting arms traffickers, informants, and criminal collaborators believed to be supporting violent groups responsible for attacks on communities, highways, schools, and rural settlements.

Analysts say cutting off access to weapons remains one of the most effective strategies for weakening the operational capabilities of criminal groups and reducing their ability to launch large-scale attacks.

The operational report described the arrest as a major success in ongoing efforts to disrupt the flow of illegal weapons into conflict-prone areas and prevent further escalation of insecurity in the region.

Authorities confirmed that the suspect remains in DSS custody and will face further interrogation as investigations continue.

Security agencies have also indicated that additional arrests may follow as efforts intensify to identify and apprehend other individuals connected to the arms trafficking network.

The development underscores the growing reliance on intelligence-led security operations to combat banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and arms trafficking across Nigeria.

As investigations progress, authorities have reassured Nigerians of their commitment to dismantling criminal supply chains and bringing all those involved in the movement of illegal weapons to justice.

DSS Foils Arms Delivery to Zamfara Bandits, Arrests Suspect in Kano