*Rules out poison, other controversies
A retired Assistant Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has revealed that late former Head of State, Sani Abacha, died of a heart attack and not poisoning as widely speculated over the years.
Amachree, in his newly released book and during an interview with TVC News, said evidence gathered during investigations into Abacha’s death pointed to natural causes, contrary to persistent claims that the former military ruler was poisoned.
According to the former DSS official, many of the narratives surrounding Abacha’s death were based on speculation rather than established facts, with people drawing conclusions without access to the details uncovered by investigators.
Abacha died on June 8, 1998, while serving as Nigeria’s Head of State.
The circumstances surrounding his death have remained the subject of public debate for nearly three decades, spawning numerous theories and conspiracy claims.
Speaking on the issue, Amachree said many accounts of what transpired on the day of Abacha’s death were formulated by people who were not directly involved in the investigation.
“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,” he said.
“Some even claimed certain actions caused his death, but they are not doctors and cannot say with certainty what killed him.”
The former DSS officer disclosed that investigators questioned a woman who was reportedly with Abacha shortly before he died, describing her testimony as the only direct eyewitness account of the events that occurred in the room.
According to Amachree, the woman arrived at the residence with her sister, who was said to be acquainted with the late Head of State.
“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,” he recalled.
Amachree said he subjected the woman to extensive questioning and found her account credible, adding that he had 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 said.
Drawing from her testimony and findings from the investigation, the former DSS official maintained 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,” Amachree stated.
His remarks are likely to reignite discussions over one of Nigeria’s most debated political deaths, nearly 28 years after the passing of the former military leader.
