Shocking Revelation: Ex-DSS Director Recounts How Sani Abacha Died

Shocking Revelation: Ex-DSS Director Recounts How Sani Abacha Died

Nearly three decades after the sudden death of Nigeria’s former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, a former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) , Dennis Amachree, has come forward with what he describes as the only credible eyewitness account of what really happened on that fateful day, dismissing long-standing claims that Abacha was poisoned. Amachree made the disclosure in his newly released book and spoke about it during an interview with TVC News. He said many accounts of Abacha’s death that have circulated over the past 28 years were based on speculation rather than firsthand knowledge of the facts. According to him, evidence gathered after Abacha’s death pointed conclusively to a heart attack. In his statement, Amachree declared: “A lot of people have come up with different stories about what happened, but they were not aware of the facts. They were looking at events from the outside and drawing conclusions. Some even claimed certain actions caused his death, but they are not doctors and cannot say with certainty what killed him.” Abacha died on June 8, 1998, while serving as Nigeria’s military Head of State. The circumstances surrounding his sudden death have remained a subject of intense public debate and speculation for nearly three decades, with numerous theories emerging over the years – ranging from poisoning by concubines to a handshake with a foreign agent.

Amachree revealed that investigators questioned a woman who was reportedly with Abacha shortly before he died, describing her testimony as the only direct eyewitness account of what transpired in the room. According to him, the woman had arrived at the residence with her sister, who was said to be acquainted with the former military ruler. “The girl who was with him when he died was later brought to me for questioning. When she entered my office, the first thing she said was, ‘I did not kill him.’ She was very direct about it,” Amachree recalled. The former DSS official said he found the woman’s account credible after conducting extensive questioning and saw no reason to doubt her version of events. “I had to believe her because she had no reason to lie to me. I did not create an atmosphere that would make her feel threatened. Her account remains the only true eyewitness account of what happened because nobody else was in that room with them,” he explained.

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Based on the woman’s testimony and findings from the investigation, Amachree concluded that Abacha died of natural causes. “From everything she told me and from what I gathered during the investigation, I strongly believe it was a heart attack. She did not know he was dead while she was with him, but later realized something was wrong. In my assessment, his death was the result of a heart attack,” he stated. This conclusion directly contradicts many popular theories, including the widely circulated claim that Abacha was poisoned by women who served him apples shortly before his death.

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Abacha’s former Chief Security Officer (CSO), has offered a different narrative over the years. He claimed that Abacha’s health collapsed after he shook hands with a security personnel who accompanied Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to Abuja on June 7, 1998. According to Al-Mustapha: “Shortly after the handshake, I noticed the change in the countenance of the late Commander-in-Chief, and I immediately informed the Aide-de-Camp, Lt. Col. Abdallah, who advised that we keep a close watch on him.” Al-Mustapha described how Abacha became unstable in the early hours of June 8. Despite efforts by his personal physician, Dr. Wali, who administered two doses of injection – one at the heart and another close to his neck – the former leader could not be revived. Al-Mustapha has also dismissed the apple-poisoning rumor, stating: “The issue of my boss dying on top of women was a great lie just as the insinuation that General Sani Abacha ate and died of poisoned apples was equally a wicked lie.” However, Amachree has publicly rejected Al-Mustapha’s handshake theory, stating simply: “Al-Mustapha is not a doctor” and cannot confidently attribute Abacha’s death to a handshake.

In 2021, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode made explosive claims on social media, alleging that Abacha was murdered by one of Arafat’s bodyguards who administered poison through a handshake. Fani-Kayode further alleged that the act was carried out with the knowledge of the United States, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) , and two former Nigerian Heads of State. He also claimed that the same parties were responsible for the death of MKO Abiola. Fani-Kayode tweeted: “Gen. Sani Abacha was killed by one of late Yasser Arafat’s bodyguards. He administered poison to him through a handshake. This was done at the behest of the CIA. Two former Nigerian Heads of State and a former Head of Military Intelligence who are also CIA agents knew about the plan.”

A key factor in the enduring mystery is the absence of a formal autopsy. Abacha’s personal physician, Professor Sadiq Suleiman (also referred to as Dr. Wali), had reportedly pushed for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, but the family declined, opting for a quick burial in accordance with Islamic rites. When asked about the poisoning rumors involving ladies, Professor Wali stated: “When I entered [Abacha’s premises], there were no ladies. It might be true but I did not see them. Concerning the poison, as I said no post-mortem has been done, so I couldn’t assure whether he was poisoned or it was a heart attack.” This lack of forensic evidence has allowed multiple theories to flourish, with no single account ever being definitively proven. Amachree’s account, while compelling as an investigative conclusion, does not constitute medical proof. As Professor Wali himself conceded: “It’s very difficult to say [whether he died of natural causes].” For clarity, the competing narratives can be summarized as follows: Dennis Amachree (Ex-DSS Assistant Director) claims heart attack based on credible eyewitness testimony from the woman present; Hamza Al-Mustapha (former CSO to Abacha) claims a handshake with Arafat’s bodyguard triggered health collapse; Femi Fani-Kayode (former Aviation Minister) claims Abacha was poisoned by Arafat’s bodyguard at the CIA’s behest; and Professor Sadiq Suleiman (Abacha’s personal physician) confirms raised cardiac enzymes were detected but no autopsy was performed.

Key events in this enduring mystery include: on June 7, 1998, Abacha reportedly shook hands with Arafat’s security personnel at Abuja airport; in the early hours of June 8, 1998, Abacha became unstable and his personal physician was unable to revive him; later on June 8, 1998, General Sani Abacha was pronounced dead and the family declined an autopsy; in 2017, Al-Mustapha gave a detailed account of the handshake theory; in 2021, Fani-Kayode alleged a CIA-led poisoning plot; and on June 10, 2026, ex-DSS Director Amachree revealed the eyewitness account in his book and TVC interview.

Nearly three decades after Abacha’s death, the exact cause remains officially undetermined due to the absence of a post-mortem examination. However, Amachree’s firsthand account of the investigation – centered on the testimony of the woman present in the room – provides the most direct evidence to date pointing to a heart attack rather than foul play. As Amachree himself noted, only a medical professional could have determined the true cause of death, but the circumstances of the time – including the family’s insistence on a quick burial – prevented that from happening. For now, Nigerians must weigh the competing narratives: the ex-DSS officer’s eyewitness-based conclusion of natural causes, Al-Mustapha’s handshake-triggered illness theory, and Fani-Kayode’s international conspiracy allegation.

Shocking Revelation: Ex-DSS Director Recounts How Sani Abacha Died