A former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim, is dead.
He was aged 81.
He died in Abuja after a brief illness, according to a statement by his family.
He was buried at Dantakun Cemetery, Katsina, after a funeral prayer held at the Katsina Emir’s palace at 4:45 pm on Sunday.
The late Ambassador Zakari was born in Katsina on 15 March 1943 into the family of the famous warrior Iyan Katsina Zakari (his grandfather).
His father was a famous Middle School Head Master and later Iyan Katsina and Talban Katsina, Alhaji Ibrahim Mashi.
The late spy chief had his secondary Education at Provincial Secondary School Katsina (1957-62) and got his Bachelor’s degree at Bayero University Kano (1969-72).
He obtained a Diploma in Education Administration from the University of Birmingham (1973-74), and a Masters degree from the University of Sheffield (1974-1975).
He became a principal in several Secondary Schools in former Kaduna State, before joining the Civil Service in 1980.
He was a one-time Nigerian Ambassador to Niger Republic from 1987 to 1990. He was appointed the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Coordinator of the Annual Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca in 1990.
He was the Deputy National Security Advisor and later Head of the National Intelligence Agency up to 1999 when he retired from the Civil Service. He succeeded his late father, Alhaji Ibrahim, as The Talban Katsina.
He was a recipient of several national and International honours and awards including a Doctorate Degree from the Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto, and a Medal of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
He was a silent philanthropist who assisted persons and communities. He was a founding member and Grand Patron of the Katsina Islamic Foundation, and promoter of the Katsina Islamic University Project.
