Obasanjo’s CoS, Major General Abdullahi Mohammed, retd, is dead

The death of General Mohammed, a former COS to ex-President Obasanjo, has occurred. He was aged 86.

It was gleaned from a widely circulated message Wednesday morning, announcing his passing away and the time for funeral prayer as well as interment.

According to the announcement, the funeral Prayer will take place at Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque, Aminu Kano Cres, Maitama Abuja after Zuhur Prayer at 1.30pm.He will be interred at Gudu Cemetry.

The message reads:

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إنا لله وانا اليه راجعون
This is to inform the Muslim Ummah of Salatul Janazah (Funeral Prayer) at Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque, Aminu Kano Cres, Maitama Abuja

Today: Wednesday 5th, November, 2025
After Zuhur Prayer By 1.30 PM

Male: Maj Gen (retd) Abdullahi Mohammed (Fmr Chief of Staff to the President)

May Allah (SWT) forgive him and grant him Jannatul Firdausi. Ameen
Interment at: Gudu cemetery.

■ Biography

Abdullahi Mohammed was a retired Nigerian Army major general who served as chief of staff to presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua from 1999 to 2008; National Security Adviser to General Abdusalami Abubakar from 1998 to 1999; Director General of the National Security Organisation from 1976 to 1979; and Governor of Benue-Plateau State, Nigeria, from July 1975 to February 1976 during the military regime of General Murtala Mohammed.

In July 1975, Mohammed was Director of Military Intelligence, and formed and executed the 1975 Nigerian coup d’état plan with other officers, including Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Joseph Nanven Garba, Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Taiwo, to depose General Yakubu Gowon, after which they transferred power to General Murtala Muhammed as head of state. Immediately after the coup, he was appointed Governor of Benue Plateau State.

After Olusegun Obasanjo had taken over control, he recalled Mohammed in March 1976, and appointed him to the Supreme Military Council as Director General of the Nigeria Security Organisation with the additional responsibility for police security. Later he was made director of military intelligence.

After General Olusegun Obasanjo handed over to elected civilians at the start of the Nigerian Second Republic in 1979, Muhammed retired from the army. He went into private business, becoming managing director of Atoto Press in Ilorin.

In 1998, General Abdusalami Abubakar who took over as head of state after the death of General Sani Abacha, removed Ismaila Gwarzo and appointed Mohammed as National Security Adviser.

In 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo made Mohammed his chief of staff, and President Umaru Yar’Adua re-appointed Mohammed as chief of staff when he assumed office on 29 May 2007. Mohammed resigned on 2 June 2008.