Etim Effiong
Former Minister of Defence during the Sani Abacha regime, Joshua Dogonyaro, is dead. He was 80 years old.
His first son Joseph disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.
“Daddy has been sick for some time until yesterday when he had a stroke and we rushed him to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for medical attention.
“Unfortunately, early this morning (Thursday), around 3.00am precisely, he breathed his last.
“His death comes as a rude shock to us as a family. We are going to miss his love and warmth as a grandfather, father, brother, uncle and supporter,” he said.
He described his father as “a general who was so faithful and loyal to the nation, Nigeria.”
According to him, the corpse has been deposited at the JUTH mortuary.
Dogonyaro was born on September 12, 1940 in Vom, Plateau State, though a native of Taroh in Langtang North Local Government Area.
He was enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1964. The former ECOMOG commander retired in 1993.
Dogonyaro also attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos and obtained National Institute in addition to the Staff College (Psc) and Forces Service Star (FSS).