13 Facts About Hassan Katsina

Hassan Katsina served as Chief of Army Staff during the Nigerian Civil War and later became the Deputy Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.

Hassan Katsina then proceeded to the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria.

Hassan Katsina commandeered troops in Kano and Kaduna, and served as an officer in the intelligence corps in the Congo Crisis, receiving the Congo Medal.

Hassan Katsina was viewed as a prominent and senior Northern military officer, with close links to the ruling class.

Unaware that Bello had already been killed by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu's putschist group, Hassan Katsina ordered Corporal John Nanzip Shagaya and Sergeant Dantsoho Mohammed on a reconnaissance mission into the city where they found Bello's dead police guard along with the corpses of Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun and his wife.

However, while the atrocities were committed by low-level soldiers accompanied by civilians and Hassan Katsina actively attempted to stop killings, he oversaw the conditions that led to the pogroms by giving Northern soldiers broad license to "defend themselves" and authorizing the broadcast of key inflammatory disinformation.

Hassan Katsina's government chose to carry on with the progress attained by Ahmadu Bello and brought aboard senior civil servants in the region who possessed administrative attributes that could continue with the progress.

Hassan Katsina's administration saw the rise of the Kaduna Mafia, a new class of young Northern intellectuals, civil servants, and military officers.

Hassan Katsina, revitalized political linkage with the emirates as a support base for his new administration; and was close to re-introducing the old Native Administrative structures of the colonial system, where emirs played a major role.

In 1968, General Hassan Katsina was appointed Chief of Army Staff after the death of Joseph Akahan.

General Hassan Katsina was respected within the military class as he led the promotion of several young officers who later led the military dictatorship in Nigeria.

Hassan Katsina was later involved in the formation of political organisations such as the National Party of Nigeria and the Committee of Concerned Citizens.

Hassan Katsina was the president of the Nigerian Polo Association, of which his father Emir Usman Nagogo was life president; and pioneer of polo in Nigeria.