By Correspondent
Lieutenant-General Joshua Nimyel Dogonyar, one time Field Commander, ECOMOG and Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff died in Jos on Thursday morning family sources disclosed.
The retired general,popular for being a member of the ‘langtang Mafia’ in his days in the military,was also responsible for announcing the coup that removed President Muhammadu Buhari from power in 1985.
History also has it that Dogonyaro red the coup speech that ousted the Buhari military junta and brought in the Ibrahim Bademosi Babangida junta on August 27, 1985.
He was born in 1940 at Vom Missionary Hospital, Vom, Plateau State and attended Saint Peter CMS Primary School, Bukuru, from where he gained admission into Boys’ Secondary School, Gindiri.
He later moved to Dental Technology School, Broad Street, Lagos, gaining admission into the Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna shortly after.
Reacting to the development, President Muhammadu Buhari,in a statement,described Dogonyaro’s death as a great loss to the military and Nigeria.
He added thatt the late Dogonyaro made patriotic sacrifices in defence of Nigeria’s unity and territorial integrity.
The president of said:”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.
“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.”
He, therefore,sympathised with the government and people of Plateau State on the death of the “legendary General’’and prayed God to bless the soul of the departed and grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
