In a statement filled with deep grief and reverence, the National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali, OON, has officially announced the passing of founding Board of Trustees member, Chief Albert Korubo Horsfall, OFR. The revered statesman and national security patriarch passed away on Wednesday, 9th September 2026, at the age of 84.
Expressing the profound shock and sorrow of the entire regional body, Ambassador Igali described Chief Horsfall as a true titan whose contributions to national stability and the Niger Delta cause remain incomparable. An aristocrat from Buguma in the Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State, Chief Horsfall was a pioneer who shaped Nigeria’s modern security architecture, serving as the founding Director-General of both the State Security Service (SSS/DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Ambassador Igali highlighted Chief Horsfall’s foundational role in addressing the socioeconomic challenges of the oil-producing region. As the pioneer Chairman of the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC)—the historic forerunner to today’s Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)—and later as Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Horsfall dedicated his public life to building institutional pathways for regional equity and sustainable growth. “Chief Horsfall was not only a security icon and a statesman who aspired to the highest office in our nation under the PDP, but he was also a custodian of our rich heritage,” noted Ambassador Igali.
He referenced Chief Horsfall’s tenure on the traditional stool of the Omekwe Paramountcy, representing a historic naval headship among the Kalabari people, as well as his decisive leadership during the founding of PANDEF in 2016.
On behalf of PANDEF, Ambassador Igali offered heartfelt condolences to the Horsfall family, the chiefs and people of the Kalabari Kingdom, and the government of Rivers State. To honor his memory, the National Chairman has directed all PANDEF chapters across Nigeria and in the Diaspora to refrain from official social engagements and to feature Chief Horsfall’s profile image on all media platforms for seven days, beginning Friday, 11th September 2026.
