RETIRED ARMY GENERAL, JOHN SHAGAYA DIED IN AUTO CRASH

Shagaya, attended Junior Primary School at Nyer and Sudan United Mission (S.U.M) Primary School, Langtang between 1952-1959, later went to the Nigeria Military School (N.M.S) Zaria in 1960-1964, and after graduation from the Nigeria Military School, Zaria, he was posted to the Nigerian Army Corps before attending the first short service Combatant Commission Course at Nigeria Defence Academy (N.D.A) Kaduna, in 1967.

The late Shagaya was posted to 3 Marine Command upon commission, where he participated in the Nigeria Civil War from 1967-1970. He became the first Field Commander to chair the Conference of the Joint Chief of Staff of the enlarged ECOMOG having commanded the 1st Mechanized Division in the Nigerian Army including a Platoon, Company, Battalion and Brigade.

Shagaya,an active politician was Director of the defunct Lion Bank (Nig.) Plc between 1998-2003, and is the author of a book: “The Tarok History”, after publishing two other books – “Governance in Nigeria: The IBB ERA, an Insider’s View” and ”The Ministry of Internal Affairs, an Overview”.

However, reacting to the death, President Muhammadu Buhari  said in a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina  that he is “profoundly saddened” to learn of the tragic accident that took the life of John Shagaya,

Buhari, also offered his “heartfelt condolences to the Shagaya family, friends, the Government and people of Plateau State on the painful passing of their illustrious son”. He said, the deceased will live on in the patriotic work he did as a military officer, who rose to the position of a general, and a senator representing Plateau South.

“The President affirms that at each step of his distinguished career in national service and politics, General Shagaya brought his deep convictions and discipline to national, regional and community assignments and was ready to always offer his best to the development and stability of the country’,Adesina stated.

Also in his own reaction, former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, said he “received with great shock the sudden demise of one of the brilliant retired military officers’ ,pointing out that Shagaya until his death had been an ardent supporter of the unity of Nigeria as a nation and a peace builder irrespective of ethnicism, tribalism and religious bigotry..