The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has expressed heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Nigerian Army (NA), on the passing of former COAS, Major General Mohammed Chris Alli (Rtd).
Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
Nwachukwu said the former Army Chief succumbed to a brief illness in the early hours of today, Sunday, November 19, at the Military Hospital, Lagos.
“Major General Alli (rtd), a revered senior officer, served the Nigerian Army, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the nation with honour and dedication in various capacities, leaving enduring prints on the sands of time. His commitment and zeal to duty manifested evidently, as he rose through the ranks to become the Director Military Intelligence (DMI), amongst several other key appointments in the Nigerian Army, climaxing his military career as the 9th COAS in November 1993, until his meritorious retirement from active service in August 1994.
“Born on 25 December 1944, in Koton Karfe, Kogi State. Gen Chris Alli’s sojourn in the NA began on 20 October 1967, as a member of the Emergency Short Service Combatant Course.
“He served diligently in various capacities, cutting across Staff, Instructional and Command. Gen Alli was at a time, the Military Administrator of Plateau State,” the statement read in part.
Nwachukwu said Lagbaja, on receiving the disheartening news of his predecessor’s demise, profoundly expressed his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the Late former COAS, praying for the repose of his soul and the strength and solace for the family in this difficult time.