General Joshua Dogonyaro Passes on
General Joshua Dogonyaro passes on in Jos on Thursday, the 13th of May, 2021, after a brief illness. He died at the age of 80.
According to reports from the family, General Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro a Former Field Commander of ECOMOG, died in Jos on Thursday morning.
The retired general was famous for being a member of the ‘Langtang Mafia’ during his time in the military. He was also responsible for announcing the coup that removed current President, Muhammadu Buhari from power in 1985.
He read the coup speech that removed the Buhari military cabal and brought in the Ibrahim Bademosi Babangida cabal on August 27, 1985.
The late General was born in 1940 at Vom Missionary Hospital, Vom, Plateau State, he attended Saint Peter CMS Primary School, Bukuru, from there, he gained admission into Boys’ Secondary School, Gindiri.
Later on, he moved to Dental Technology School, Broad Street, shortly after, he gained admission into the Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna.
He was confirmed to be 80 years of age at the time of his death.
President Buhari also mourns his death
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Joshua Dogonyaro as a huge loss not only to the Nigerian military but also to the Nation at large because of the general’s patriotic sacrifices to defend and bring unity and integrity to the country.
“The death of Dogonyaro comes as a great shock to me because as a soldier, I know what it means to lose such an officer and a gentleman who gave his best in the service of the country,” the President said.
According to the President, General Dogonyaro professionally distinguished himself in the course of his military career, the President notes that “laying down one’s life for the country is one of the greatest sacrifices any citizen can make to his country. General Dogonyaro’s incalculable contributions will be remembered for years to come.”
President Buhari also extended his deepest condolences to the Government and People of Plateau State on the passing of the legendary general.
He prayed for God to bless the soul of the departed and grant his family the strength to bear the loss.
The late Dogonyaro enlisted in the Army in 1964 and rose to become a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) in 1985; General Officer Commanding 2nd Mechanised Division, Ibadan in 1987.
He was also promoted to Major-General in 1988 and Lt. General. He was an ECOMOG Commander too and retired in 1993.
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