Col. Abubakar Waziri Mahdi (Rtd), died yesterday at the age of 79 after a protracted illness.

The late emir spent about three weeks at the Federal Teaching Hosptal, Gombe and was transferred to Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja on Sunday, and eventually died yesterday.

A palace source said his burial would take place at Deba, headquarters of Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area as soon as the body arrived via road from Abuja.

Alhaji Abubakar Waziri Mahdi, a first class emir, retired from the Nigerian Army in 1984 after attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel.

He was first turbaned as District Head of Deba in 1984 after the demise of his predecessor. He was elevated to the status of first class in the year 2002 by former Governor Abubakar Habu Hashidu.

Chairman of Yamaltu Deba local government, Malam Haruna Samanja confirmed the death. He said the late emir was survived by two wives and 27 children.