Former Army Provost Marshal, Maj Gen Okunbor Dies In Indian Hospital

A former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Major General Joseph Okunbor (Rtd) has been reported dead.

According to a family source, Major Gen Okunbor died on Tuesday at the age of 63 in an Indian hospital, after battling an unknown ailment.

A further report had it that the friends and former colleagues have stormed the residence of the deceased in Ibadan to sympathise with the bereaved family.

Major General Okunbor was born in Benin City on 18 August 1956. He hailed from Orhionmowon Local Government Area of Edo State.

He had his primary education at Holy Aruosa Primary School, Benin from 1963 to 1969 and his secondary education as a boy soldier at Nigerian Military School, Zaria from 1971 to 1975.

He started his officer cadet training in the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna on 5 January 1976 as a member of Regular Combatant Course 19 and was later selected to attend the Officer Cadet Standard Military Course 16 at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst from 5 September 1977 to 7 April 1978. He was later granted Regular Combatant Commission on 7 April 1978 in the rank of Second Lieutenant with seniority in the same rank with effect from 5 January 1976.

On commission, he was posted to the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and during the course of his career, he later changed to the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police. By dint of hardwork, valour, commitment and loyalty, Major General Joseph Aiyowieren Okunbor earned his promotions.

Before his retirement, Major General Joseph Aiyowieren Okunbor has held many appointments at both junior and higher leadership levels in command, staff and instructions. Notable among these appointments are

• Troop Commander, Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery

• Adjutant, 42 Field Artillery Regiment

• Battery Commander, 313 Medium Artillery Regiment

• Staff Officer Grade 3 Legal Services, Headquarters 82 Division

• 2 i/c Charlie Company, HQ Nigerian Army Provost Battalion

• Officer Commanding Alfa Company, 82 Provost Battalion.

• Asst Director, Army Legal Services 82 Division,

• Directing Staff, Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji

• Staff Officer Grade 1 Administration, Directorate of Army Legal Services

• Asst. Director, Army Legal Services 2 Division.

• Colonel Discipline, HQ Nigerian Army Department of Army Administration

• Colonel Administration, Directorate of Army Legal Services

• Commander 3 Provost Group

• Commander 82 Provost Group

• Commander 81 Provost Group

• Deputy Director of Procurement, Defence Headquarters

• Director of Training, Training and Doctrine Command

• Ag. Commander, Training and Doctrine Command

• Director of Army Legal Services

• Provost Marshal, Nigerian Army

• Chief of Logistics, Nigerian Army

• Director of Policy, Defence Headquarters.

In recognition of his outstanding virtues and in appreciation of the services to his country Nigeria, he was awarded Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).