Umaru Dikko Dies At 78

Former Minister of Transport and chieftain of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Alhaji Umaru Dikko, is dead. Although details of his death remain sketchy, THISDAY learnt that Dikko died in the early hours of Tuesday morning from an age-related illness at a London hospital.

The Second Republic politician who was a major ally of former President Shehu Shagari between 1979 and 1983, will be remembered for the failed attempt by the military regime headed by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, to kidnap and drug him and fly him back to Lagos from London's Stansted Airport in a crate.

After the military overthrow of the Shagari-led civilian government, Dikko had fled to the United Kingdom where he was living in exile.

 The botched attempt to kidnap Dikko on July 5, 1984 led to major diplomatic row between Nigeria and the UK, which culminated in the expulsion from Britain of two members of the Nigerian High Commission in London, including the High Commissioner.

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