A former presidential aspirant in the third republic, Umaru Shinkafi, is dead. Shinkafi died Wednesday in a London hospital at about 4:00pm Nigerian time.

In a message of condolence, President Muhammadu Buhari commiserated with the government and people of Sokoto State over the demise.

He described the late Shinkafi as one of the illustrious sons of Sokoto, adding that the deceased was an expert, whose contributions to the development of the security architecture of Nigeria remained indelible.

Buhari recalled that the former Federal Commissioner of Internal Affairs and boss of the National Security Organisation (NSO) played frontline roles in the activities leading to the eventual return and enthronement of democracy in the country.

He prayed God to give the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the loss.