Al-Mustapha Planning Coup? Soldiers Invade His Home in Kano

Armed men, believed to be Nigerian soldiers on Friday evening raided one of the residences of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, located at Durbin Katsina, Kano metropolis, leaving in its wake sordid tales of molestation.

The heavily armed men, who reportedly came in trucks and tanks, cordoned streets leading to the house and seized the occupants who were mostly women and children in an operation that lasted 60 minutes.

Al-Mustapha’s younger brother, identified as Hadi, is also said to be a resident of the house.

Eyewitnesss said immediately they gained entrance into the building, ordered everyone around to lie face flat on ground and, at gunpoint, conducted a commando-style search of the building...

“One Abubakar, a cousin to Major Al-Mustapha, was maltreated by the troops. He is now recuperating at a private hospital, a witness recounted.

The eyewitness revealed that the wife of Hadi, Al Mustapha’s brother, was forced, at gunpoint, to conduct the armed men round the expansive building, adding that the woman was heavily traumatized.

Another source stated: “The invading forces were not friendly, not even the children were spared as the house was ransacked inside out all in the name of searching for an imaginary cache of arms”.

The insider source added:

“The same treatment was meted to those outside. I heard their leader, a colonel, during a telephone conversation, telling the person at the other end that they had not found anything incriminating and that it seemed the information (they had) was not accurate”.

Speaking on the development, Hadi said the family was evaluating the damages done by the men, adding that: “We intend to come up with details of what happened and the action to follow in due course.”

When Vanguard contacted the outgoing military spokesman in Kano, Captain Ikediche Iweha, on the issue, he said: “Haba, we don’t invade houses. If the story you are telling is correct, then it must be the usual routine checks. In any case, give me time to verify the matter and get back to you”.