Former Inspector-General of Police, IGP Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu, is dead after a brief illness.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, an acting Commissioner of Police, announced yesterday.

Yusufu, he said, died April 1, and was buried yesterday in his Katsina hometown in accordance with Islamic injunctions.

"Late Yusufu was born in Katsina on November 10, 1931. He was the third indigenous Inspector-General of Police, Federal Republic of Nigeria 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 Wednesday 30th July, 1975," he said.

Ojukwu added that the deceased 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 – 1953; and Christ Church College (Oxford University).

He said the late IGP 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, Yusufu was appointed Chairman of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (NLNG) in 1994. He was also Chairman Presidential Committee on Nigeria Police Force reform. He became Chairman of the Central Working Committee of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a northern cultural and socio-political association, in 2001.

"He also forayed into politics and was presidential candidate on the platform of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) and Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ) in Nigeria.

"Yusufu is survived by a wife, children and grand children," he stated.

•Photo shows M D Yusufu.

Update news