TheCable

The Nigeria police force has announced the death Muhammadu Dikko Yusuf, former inspector-general of police, (IGP) who passed away on Wednesday after a brief illness.

It opened condolence registers at the foyers of Louis Edet House, force headquarters, Abuja, and Kam Salem House, force headquarters annex, Moloney Street, Lagos.

The late Yusufu was born in Katsina on November 10, 1931. He was the third indigenous inspector-general of police of Nigeria, serving between 1975 and 1979.

He was seconded into the Nigeria police force as an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) in 1962, and later became inspector-general of police on July 30, 1975.

The late Yusufu obtained his elementary, middle Schools and higher educational qualifications at Katsina Provincial School, Katsina; School for Arabic Studies, Kano, 1947; Institute of Administration, Zaria (1952 and 1953) and  Christ Church College (Oxford University).

He was a holder of many national honours and awards, which include Nigeria Police Medal (NPM), Commander of the order of the Federal Republic (CFR), and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).

After his retirement from the Nigeria police force, he held various national appointments. He was appointed chairman of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (NLNG) in 1994.

He became chairman of the central working committee of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a northern cultural and socio-political association in 2001.

He was presidential candidate of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) and Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ) in 1998, and was the only candidate who challenged Sani Abacha, and refused to stand down for him. However, he was unsuccessful in his bid as all the five political parties adopted Abacha as sole candidate.

He was also the chairman, presidential committee on Nigeria police force reform.

He is survived by a wife, children and grand children.