Buratai, Ortom attend burial of Malu, ex-chief of army staff

Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, and Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, were among the dignitaries who witnessed the burial of Victor Malu, former chief of army staff, on Saturday.

Malu, who died on October 9, was buried around 12:23p.m on Saturday at his country home, Tongov, Katsina-Ala local government area of Benue.

He died in Cairo, Egypt, after a protracted illness.

Speaking at the occasion, Ortom said after due consultation with the state house of assembly, Malu would be immortalised by the state.

The governor described him as a professional soldier and a great man, who had done much to impact the lives of the Tiv people and the state in general.

“The late Malu had contributed much into the lives of the Tivs and Nigerians. We are proud of him, we appreciate him,” he said.

In a citation, Buratai described Malu as an articulate, dedicated, forthright gentleman, professional officer, who was firm, but calm.

He said his death was a great loss to his family, army, the nation and West Africa sub-region.

Jeremiah Useni, chairman, senate committee on defence, described Malu as a great, efficient, brave and frank officer.

In his sermon, Terseer Shagba, a reverend at the NKST Church, spoke on the need for those in positions of authority to render selfless service to the people.

The cleric urged leaders to be faithful and discharge their duties in whatever they were entrusted with like Mordecai in the book of Esther.

He said that was the only way they could endear themselves to the people, thereby guarantee their own security.

Malu enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the regular course 3 in 1967 and was commissioned in 1970 as a second lieutenant.

He held many positions in the army, including general officer commanding (GOC) 82 division, Enugu, contingent commander and chief of operations of Nigerians contingent to Liberia, in 1992, and force commander, ECOMOG, Liberia, 1996.

He is survived by wife, Esther, and four children, a female and three male, among who is Tarlumun Malu, a lieutenant colonel.