A former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has dismissed conspiracy theories surrounding the 1998 death of military ruler General Sani Abacha, saying the available evidence pointed conclusively to a heart attack.
Amachree made the disclosure in his newly released book, which he discussed during an appearance on TVC News’ Breakfast Show.
The former intelligence official said most accounts that had circulated since Abacha’s death on June 8, 1998, were grounded in speculation rather than firsthand knowledge of the investigation’s findings.
“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.”
Amachree revealed that investigators had questioned a woman who was reportedly present with Abacha shortly before he died — and whose account he described as the only direct eyewitness testimony of what transpired.
According to him, the woman arrived at the residence alongside her sister, who was said to be acquainted with the former 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.
He said he found her testimony credible after thorough questioning. “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.”
Amachree said the woman was unaware Abacha had died while she was still with him, and only later realised something was wrong. Combined with other investigative findings, he said the conclusion was unambiguous.
“From everything she told me and from what I gathered during the investigation, I strongly believe it was a heart attack,” he said.
Abacha’s sudden death in office has remained a subject of public debate and speculation for nearly three decades, with multiple competing theories continuing to circulate about the circumstances of his demise.
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