[1] Idris Garba was born in July 1947 in Gulu, Lapai Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, Nigeria.

He entered the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1968.

[1] He attended the following courses:[1] His commands were:[1] In 1988, General Ibrahim Babangida appointed him Military Governor of Benue State.

He was then appointed governor of Kano State in August 1988, serving until 1992 when he hand-over to civilian Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya in the build up to the Nigerian Third Republic.

[2] Col. Idris Garba enacted an edict which repealed previous laws and vested the Kano State Sports Council with the responsibilities of promoting and developing sports in the state.