Former Chief of Army Staff, Mohammed Wushishi, dies at 81

Former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Muhammed Inuwa Wushishi(retd.), has died at the age of 81 at a London hospital, United Kingdom.

Mary Noel Berje, spokesperson for the governor of Niger, Abubakar Bello, who disclosed this in a statement said Wushishi, who hailed from Niger state, died on Saturday.

General Wushishi was born in 1940 in Wushishi, Headquarters of Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State and joined the army on 21 April 1961. He attended the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna, and then the Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot in the United Kingdom.

He was Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from October 1981 to October 1983 during the Shehu Shagari administration.

Part of the statement read, “Niger state Governor and Chairman North Central Governors Forum (NCGF) Abubakar Sani Bello, has sympathised with the people of Wushishi local government area, Kontagora Emirate and the entire Nigerlites over the death of an elder statesman Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi (Rtd).

“The Chairman North Central Governors Forum said government and people of Niger State are indeed saddened by the demise of the Former Chief of Army staff who coordinated the activities of elder statesmen in the state over the years and made immense contributions to the peace, growth and development of the state and Nigeria as a whole.

“The Governor maintained that even after active service, late Gen. Wushishi continued to offer useful counsel that helped in the development of the society.

“He said the death of Gen. Wushishi has created a vacuum that can only be filled by Allah, pointing out that the society will miss his wise counsel which are most needed now in overcoming the numerous challenges that have bedevilled Nigeria in general.

“The Chairman, NCGF, prayed Allah to forgive all the shortcomings of the deceased and grant him Aljahna Firdausi as well as give the entire people of the state and close associates the fortitude to bear the great loss.

“This loss is for all Nigerians considering the very many contributions the deceased has made in uniting the country as a soldier and ensuring its growth and development.”