Nigeria's military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, (54), has reportedly died, according to reports reaching Dakar Monday afternoon.

He is said to have died of cardiac arrest at his presidential villa in Abuja, the capital.

Abacha took over power in a bloodless coup in November 1993 from Ernest Shonekan who had been put in power by the military government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida who annulled Nigeria's June 1993 president polls.

There is no confirmation as yet from the government about the reported death of the infantry general who promised to hand over power to a civilian government in October this year.