President Buhari mourns loss of Pres. candidate Umaru Shinkafi

The death has been announced of Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, the vice-presidential candidate of Olu Falae in the APP/AD alliance in 1999.


Shinkafi was also head of the secret police, the Nigeria Security Organisation (NSO), which has been rebranded Department of State Services (DSS), from 1979 to 1983.

He ran with Adamu Ciroma in the race for the presidential ticket of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1992 before the military government cancelled the primary.

 President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, July 6, commiserated with the government and people of Sokoto state.

According to a statement issued by Buhari’s special adviser on media and publicity,  Femi Adesina, the president described the deceased as an ‘illustrious sons’.

Buhari further described the deceased as an expert whose contributions to the development of the security architecture of Nigeria remains indelible Buhari recalled that the former Federal Commissioner of Internal Affairs and boss of the National Security Organisation played frontline roles in the activities leading to the eventual return and enthronement of democracy in the country.


 He called on family members, friends and associates of the departed community leader, who held the Marafan Sokoto traditional title, to take solace in the fact that the deceased played the roles assigned to him diligently, conscientiously and patriotically. He also enjoined them to emulate the good virtues that he left behind.

Buhari prayed that Almighty Allah will grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.

Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi died in London on Wednesday, July 6 after a prolonged illness.

 Shinkafi, who held the traditional title of Marafan Sokoto, was a native of Zamfara State. According to Premium Times, Shinkafi’s body will be flown back to Nigeria on Friday for burial at Abubakar III burial ground in Sokoto.