The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has described the demise of Lieutenant General Garba Duba, as a colossal loss, not only to the Army but also to the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria and the nation at large.
General Lagbaja made this known when he paid a condolence visit to the widow of the late Lieutenant General Garba Duba, Hajiya Rabi Garba Duba.
A statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said “General Lagbaja was accompanied by some top brass of the Nigerian Army (NA) on the visit on Monday 20 May 2024, to commiserate with the widow of the deceased, as well as other members of the family.”
The Army Chief extolled the virtues of the late General, describing him as a torch bearer, a disciplinarian, a mentor and a leader, who brought up most of the top brass of the Nigerian Army, when he was the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
The Army Chief further asserted that his contributions to the development of the Nigerian Army and the defence of the nation would remain indelible in the institutional memory of the Nigerian Army.
General Lagbaja assured the family of the deceased of the NA’s support at all times whenever the need arises.
Responding on behalf of the family of the Late Lieutenant General Duba, the first son, Mohammed Sani Duba expressed appreciation to the COAS and the entire Army for the timely condolence visit and show of love, saying the ‘‘NA stood by their Dad throughout his life time and at his demise.”
Lieutenant General Garba Duba died on 17th May 2024, after a brief illness. During his active service, he held numerous appointments notably, General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy and Chief of Training and Operations Defence Headquarters.
He was also one time Governor of Bauchi State from 1978 – 1979 during the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo and the Administrator of Sokoto State from January 1984 – August 1985 during the military regime of Major General Muhammadu Buhari.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
