By Ovie Okpare
A personal bodyguard to President Muhammadu Buhari, Warrant Officer Lawal Mato, is dead.
The Presidency announced the death of of the bodyguard on Tuesday, saying the deceased died of diabetes after battling the disease for over three years.
In a statement signed by Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, described the late Mato as a very diligent and gallant officer.
Shehu revealed that Mato was one of the security details restored back to President Buhari by the late President Umaru Musa-Yar’adua as personal security, but had been off full duty in the last three years.
“After three years of struggling with diabetes, one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s bodyguards, Warrant Officer Lawal Mato, on Tuesday passed away.
“The President described the officer, who had been working with him for many years before he won the 2015 elections, as ‘very thorough, trustworthy and dependable soldier who carried out his duty with diligence and focus.
“President Buhari prayed that Allah will ease his passage to paradise and grant his family, government and people of Jigawa State, the fortitude to bear the loss.
“WO Mato was part of a team that former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua restored to President Buhari as personal security and he had been off full duty for three years, treating diabetes”, the statement said.
