Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Abacha’s ex-Chief of General Staff, Oladipo Diya, dies at 79

“Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023,” reads a family statement announcing his demise.

• March 26, 2023
Lt-General Oladipo Diya
Lt-General Oladipo Diya [Photo Credit; Legit.ng]

Former Chief of General Staff to late military dictator Sani Abacha, Lt-General Oladipo Diya, is dead.

Mr Diya’s demise at 79 was announced in a statement by his son, Oyesinmilola Diya, on Sunday morning.

“On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad; we announce the passing on to glory of our dear husband, father, grandfather, brother, Lt-General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya,” the statement reads.

The statement added that, “Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023.”

Born on April 3, 1943, at Odogbolu in Ogun State, Mr Diya was appointed Chief of General Staff by the Abacha regime in 1993.

He was arrested and jailed by the same regime for treason in 1997, but later freed after Mr Abacha’s death.

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