Heroic Act: Shehu Sani Saves Obasanjo From Prison Assault Drama

Heroic Act: Shehu Sani Saves Obasanjo From Prison Assault Drama

On June 28, 2024, Shehu Sani, former senator of Kaduna State, shared a remarkable story of how he intervened to protect former President Olusegun Obasanjo from potential assault by inmates at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in 1995.

Speaking at a lecture in Abuja, Sani, a prominent figure among pro-democracy activists during the military regime of Sani Abacha (1993-1998), reflected on his experiences.

During the military crackdown, Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s Head of State from 1976 to 1979 and later as civilian president from 1999 to 2007, was arrested in 1995 on charges related to an alleged coup plot and incarcerated at Kirikiri prison alongside Sani and the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

Recalling the tense moment, Sani described how some inmates, upon seeing Obasanjo, began shouting and directing insults at him. Sani intervened, urging the inmates to calm down and reminding them that despite any grievances, Obasanjo was now a fellow prisoner.

“In 1995, a team of security forces raided my home in Kaduna, marking the beginning of a four-year journey. I was taken to Lagos with General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. At the DSS headquarters, we encountered President Olusegun Obasanjo,” Sani recounted.

Reflecting on the treatment during their arrest, Sani noted the disparity in how he was handcuffed while Obasanjo and Yar’Adua were not, prompting a remark from Obasanjo questioning the unequal treatment.

“I explained to Obasanjo that I was an activist,” Sani added, highlighting the challenging times under military rule and his role in protecting Obasanjo during their shared imprisonment at Kirikiri.