By Salim Yunusa
Former Chief of Defence Staff to late Gen Sani Abacha, Lt-Gen Joshua Dogonyaro, has died.
Dogonyaro was aged 80 years.
The first son of the deceased, Joseph, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview in Pankshin, Plateau State 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 3.00 am precisely, he gave up the ghost,” he told NAN.
Dogonyaro, a former Field Commander of ECOMOG and General Officer Commanding, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, was popular for being a member of the ‘Langtang Mafia’ during his days in the military.
He was also responsible for announcing the coup that removed current President, Muhammadu Buhari from power as then military leader in 1985.
Specifically, Gen Dogonyaro read the coup speech to announce the ouster of the Buhari military junta and ushered in the Ibrahim Bademosi Babangida regime on August 27, 1985.
