Joshua Dogonyaro, former ECOMOG commander, is dead

Joshua Dogonyaro, a former commander of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), is dead. 

Dogonyaro, aged 80, died Thursday at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau state.

He was said to have battled an undisclosed illness for some time.

Joseph, his son, told NAN that he suffered a stroke and was rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

“Unfortunately, early this morning (Thursday), around 3.00am precisely, he breathed his last,” he said.

“His death comes as a rude shock to us as a family. We are going to miss his love and warm as a grandfather, father, brother, uncle and supporter.

“He was a general who had no bias mind as a detribalised Nigerian. He served this nation faithful and identified with all Nigerians and Africa as a continent.

“We and Nigerians are going to miss him having served humanity in this country and Africa as a whole.”

His remains have been deposited at the Airforce Hospital in Jos.

WHO WAS JOSHUA DOGONYARO?

Born in Vom, Plateau state, Dogonyaro attended Boys’ Secondary School, Gindiri, and between 1964 to 1967, attended the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.

He took courses at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji; Armour Officers Course, US; Armoured Car Troop Leaders Course, UK; Command and Staff College, Jaji; Defence Resources Management Course, US; and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.

He enlisted in the Nigerian army in 1964, and in 1967, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the army’s armoured corps.

During his military career, Dogonyaro commanded a couple of army formations within and outside Nigeria.

He was the task force commanding officer, 203 armoured battalion of the peace-keeping force in Chad; director of manning at the army headquarters, director of army’s armoury, and general officer commanding, 3 armoured division, Jos.

In 1985, Dogonyaro was a member of the armed forces ruling council (AFRC).

He read the coup speech that ousted Muhammadu Buhari, then military head of state, and brought in Ibrahim Babangida on August 27, 1985.

He retired as a lieutenant-general.