Ibrahim Coomassie, Nigeria’s former Inspector-General of Police and Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), who died on Thursday was buried in Rimin-Badawa cemetery, Katsina on Friday.
Sheikh Samu Adam, the chief imam of Bin Coomassie Juma’at Mosque, Katsina, led the funeral prayer about 2.06 pm shortly after Friday Juma’at service, with many sympathisers, associates, friends and well-wishers attending the funeral.
Those who witnessed the funeral prayer include the Emirs of Daura and Katsina, Alhaji Umar Faruq and Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, Minister of Interior and Lt.-Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazau (rtd).
Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris and a prominent businessman Alhaji Samaila Isa Funtua also witnessed the occasion.
The chief imam prayed Almighty Allah to forgive the deceased’s sins and grant his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The cleric said death is inevitable, and that it can happen to “anyone at any time and anywhere.”
He urged Muslims to always fear Allah by obeying His injunctions and be prepared for death at any time.
President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State and the All Progressive Congress (APC) have all expressed shock over the death of Coomassie.
Coomassie retired as Nigeria’s 9th Inspector General of Nigerian Police, serving between 1993 to 1999, under the military governments of Generals Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar.
He was among the eldest sons of Malam Ahmadu Coomassie, an educationist, and businessman who became a permanent secretary of the ministry of education in the Northern region.