Ishaya Bamaiyi

Lieutenant General Ishaya Bamaiyi GCON
Chief of Army Staff
In office March 1996 – May 1999
Preceded by	Maj-Gen. Alwali Kazir
Succeeded by	Lt-Gen. S.V.L. Malu
Personal details
Born	(1949-09-21) 21 September 1949 (age 75) Zuru, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Kebbi State, Nigeria)
Awards	Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger Forces Service Star Meritorious Service Star Distinguished Service Star National Service Medal General Service Medal Defence Service Medal
Military service
Allegiance	Nigeria
Branch/service	Nigerian Army
Years of service	1968–1999
Rank	Lieutenant general
Commands	Brigades of Guards, Lagos Garrison Command
Battles/wars	Biafran war

Ishaya Rizi Bamaiyi, GCON (born 21 September 1949) is a retired Nigerian Army lieutenant general who served as Chief of Army Staff from 1996 to 1999 during the military regime of Generals Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar.[1] His older brother was Major General Musa Bamaiyi, former Head of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Background and education

He was born in Kebbi State, Northwestern Nigeria. He was Short serviced commissioned into the Nigerian Army infantry Corps in 1968 as a member of SSC 4 he attended the following courses:

• Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, 1968
• Young Officers infantry Course 1971
• Advanced Infantry Company Commanders Course, UK, 1976
• Command and General Staff College, United States 1981-82
• International Management Course, USA, 1986
• Snr. Executive Course, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos. 1992

Military career

General Bamaiyi prior to becoming the Chief of Army Staff held the following posts:

• Adjutant. 182 Infantry Battalion. 1968-70
• Commanding Officer 70 Infantry Battalion, 1972–77
• Directing Staff, Command and Staff College, Jaji, 1982–84
• Commander. 9 Mechanised Brigade, 1986–90
• Commander, Brigade of Guards, 1990–92
• Director Training, Army Headquarters, Department of Operations, 1992–93
• Commander. Lagos Garrison Command. 1993-96

General Bamaiyi was appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in March 1996 by General Sanni Abacha.[2] He served as COAS for 3 years until his retirement in May 1999.

Controversy

Attempted murder allegations

On 10 December 1999 Gen. Bamaiya was charged with the attempted Murder of Guardian Newspaper Publisher Alex Ibru on 2 February 1996 alongside the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Gen Abacha, Major Hamza al-Mustapha, and others by the Lagos state government. Bamaiyi who served under the military administration of late General Sani Abacha was arraigned by the Lagos state government of the attempted murder of publisher of the Guardian newspaper, Mr. Alex Ibru, and an eminent Delta state indigene, Mr. Isaac Porbeni. [3] He was discharged and acquitted on 2 April 2008 of any wrongdoing in the saga after nine years in detention.[4]

Feud with Musa Bamaiyi

Ishaya and his older brother, Musa Bamaiyi reportedly feuded for years leading to Musa seeking redress from the Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission (HRVIC) Panel, headed by Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.[5]

References

1. "COAS Chronicle of Command". Nigerian Army. Nigerian Army. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
2. "Profile of Gen I.R. Bamaiyi". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
3. "Lt Gen Bamaiya Ishaya Arraigned". ecoi.net. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
4. "Lt Gen Bamaiya Discharged and acquitted". saharareporters.com. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
5. Asoya, Sylvester. "Nigeria: Bamaiyi Vs Bamaiyi". AllAfrica. Retrieved 2 January 2017.