Sarki Mukhtar; Major General of the Nigerian army, appointed in 2006 as as the National Security Adviser. Mukhtar served before as head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, DMI, under General Sani Abacha, and was also Nigeria’s envoy to Russia. Mukhatar, a hard-nosed soldier, started an impressive military career that spanned 31 years at the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Kaduna, rising swiftly to the top echelon of the military to be appointed politically as the premier military governor Katsina State when it was newly created in 1987 and then military governor of Kaduna State a year later, while joining the membership of the top-notch Provisional Ruling Council, PRC.
Places of Growth
Born July 5, 1949, Mukhtar got his primary and secondary education at Kofar Kudu Primary School, Gwale Senior Primary School and Provincial Secondary School (now Rumfa College), all in Kano State, from 1957 to 1967.
Education
Mukhtar attended a commander’s course in Quetta, Pakistan; Advanced Criminal Investigation Management course; Military Police School and Advanced Physical Security course, all in the United States of America. Back home, he studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos in 1980, and the Command arid Staff College, Jaji.
Military Career
In 1968, Mukhtar was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Nigerian Army. From 1971 he served as acting commander of the 170 of the Nigerian 19 Infantry Battalion, and was promoted in 1973 as a lieutenant. After becoming Captain he rose in brass as military top guards command the 4 G Battalion, Epe, Lagos State and the army’s elite Guards, the brigade from which he oversaw the administration and quartering of the military police, first as major and then colonel. Mukhtar was commander of the Nigerian Army Special Investigation Bureau and commander of the NDA’s Cadet Brigade. He was also General Officer Commanding, GOC. I Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna State and ex-director of the DMI is an alumnus[i].
[i] Tell June 12, 2006
