Lagbaja mourns as former COAS Chris Alli dies at 79
Former Chief of Army Staff, COAS and Military Administrator of Plateau State, Major General Chris Alli: dies after brief illness in Lagos
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Sumaila Ogbaje
A former Chief of Army Staff, COAS and military administrator of Plateau State, Major General Chris Alli is dead.
Alli, who was appointed the 9th COAS in November 1993 and was in office until his retirement from service in August 1994 died after a brief illness in the early hours of Sunday at the Military Hospital, Lagos.
He was aged 79.
Alli was born on December 25, 1944, in Koton Karfe, in present-day Kogi State.
He joined the Nigerian Army on October 20, 1967, as a member of the Emergency Short Service Combatant Course and rose through the ranks to become the Director, Military Intelligence (DMI), amongst several other key appointments in the Nigerian army.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has expressed heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Nigerian Army, on the passing of the late General Chris Alli
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In the condolence message contained in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig -Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, issued on Sunday in Abuja Lagbaja noted that the late COAS served the Army, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the nation with honour and dedication in various capacities, leaving enduring prints on the sands of time.
“Alli’s 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.”
Lagbaja noted that Alli rose to the pinnacle of his military career as the 9th COAS in November, 1993 and was there until his retirement from service in August, 994.
He served in various capacities, cutting across staff, instructional and command, and was, at a time, the Military Administrator of Plateau.
“The COAS, Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja, on receiving the disheartening news of his demise, profoundly expressed his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the Late COAS.
“He prayed for the repose of his soul and the strength and solace for the family in this difficult time,” the statement said.
Lagbaja, on receiving the disheartening news of his demise, profoundly expressed his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the Late COAS.
