Sani Abacha: 20 Years After
Nigeria’s 10th Head of State, Sani Abacha, was born on this day in 1943. On what would have been his 75th birthday, we take a glimpse back into his life and the legacy he left behind.
In 1963, Abacha passed out of the Nigerian Military Training Centre in Kaduna, receiving further training in the UK. He married Maryam Jiddah two years later, and they had 10 children together.
Abacha fought for Nigeria in the civil war against Biafran secessionists from 1967-72, rising through the army ranks.
On 31 December 1983, he staged a coup that toppled the civilian government of President Shehu Shagari. General Muhammadu Buhari was installed as military ruler. He supported a coup to overthrow Buhari in 1985 and helped install General Ibrahim Babangida.
Abacha was appointed Minister of Defence in August 1993 after Babangida stepped down, and created an interim government headed by civilian president Ernest Shonekan. Shonekan resigned on 17 November 1993, transferring power to Abacha in a move widely believed to be another coup. His regime was marred by human rights abuses and the crushing of dissenting voices.