[dropcap]N[/dropcap]igeria’s retired general and a politician, Senator John Shagaya on Sunday afternoon died in a car accident, while returning from his country home in Langtang on his way to Jos.
Motoring World gathered that the accident occurred after a front tyre of his Toyota LandCruiser, Sports Utility Vehicle(SUV) burst at a high speed and the driver lost control, leading to the car rolling over severally.
The 75-year-old retired army general was said to be travelling with his driver and orderly, when the accident occurred, but the two survived with serious injuries and are receiving treatment at the hospital.
Born in Langtang North, on September 2, 1942, Mr. Shagaya served as minister of internal affairs under Mr. Babangida, and represented Plateau South in the senate from 2007-2011.
Until his demise, he was a chieftain of the Nigeria’s ruling party, APC in Plateau State.
Mr. Shagaya, who attended Junior Primary School at Nyer and Sudan United Mission (S.U.M) Primary School, Langtang between 1952-1959, later went to the Nigeria Military School (N.M.S) Zaria in 1960-1964.
After graduation from the Nigeria Military School, Zaria, Mr. Shagaya was posted to the Nigerian Army Corps before attending the first short service Combatant Commission Course at Nigeria Defence Academy (N.D.A) Kaduna, in 1967.
He was posted to 3 Marine Command upon commission, where he participated in the Nigeria Civil War from 1967-1970.
Mr. Shagaya became the first Field Commander to chair the Conference of the Joint Chief of Staff of the enlarged ECOMOG having commanded the 1st Mechanized Division in the Nigerian Army including a Platoon, Company, Battalion and Brigade.
In addition to being an active politician, Mr. Shagaya was Director of the defunct Lion Bank (Nig.) Plc between 1998-2003, and is the author of a book: “The Tarok History”, after publishing two other books – “Governance in Nigeria: The IBB ERA, an Insider’s View” and ”The Ministry of Internal Affairs, an Overview”.
