A war of words has erupted between two former security chiefs over the circumstances surrounding the death of former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.
Former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services, Dennis Amachree, has challenged ex-CSO to Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd.), to produce CCTV footage of the late dictator’s final hours if he disputes the account in his memoir.
Amachree, author of _‘DSS@40’_, said Al-Mustapha should present facts instead of dismissing the book and calling him names.
According to him, the memoir was officially vetted by the DSS and published with institutional backing as part of activities to mark the agency’s 40th anniversary.
“The security agency approved the publication and invited me from the United States to attend the launch, which was attended by senior security officials, state directors of the service and members of the diplomatic community,” Amachree said.
He dismissed Al-Mustapha’s criticism and rejection of his account, insisting the former CSO should back his claims with proof.
“If Al-Mustapha claims to know what transpired during Abacha’s final hours, he should provide CCTV footage or other evidence to support his position,” Amachree said during a telephone interview.
The ex-DSS director also rejected Al-Mustapha’s description of him as “a boy.”
“I was seven years old when Nigeria gained independence,” Amachree said.
“I retired as an Assistant Director, which in army terms is equivalent to a Brigadier, while Al-Mustapha retired as a Major.”
The dispute centers on Amachree’s account of what happened in Abacha’s final hours, as detailed in _DSS@40_.
Al-Mustapha had earlier dismissed the book, saying Amachree was “acting a script.” The former CSO has maintained he knows what truly happened in the villa on June 8, 1998.
Amachree is now daring him: put up the evidence or drop the counter-narrative.
The death of Gen. Abacha in 1998 remains one of Nigeria’s most debated state secrets, with conflicting accounts over whether it was natural causes or foul play.
