Gibson Jalo

Lt. General (retired) Gibson Sanda Jalo CFR FSS JSS (1 March 1939 – 10 January 2000) was Chief of Army Staff (Nigeria) from April 1980 until October 1981.^[1]

Birth and education

Jalo was born on 1 March 1939 at Demsa in Adamawa State. He attended Yola Middle School (1950 - 1953) and Government College Keffi (1953 - 1958). He enlisted into the Infantry corps of the Royal Nigerian Military Force in 1959. He took the Regular Officers Cadet training course at the Royal West African Frontier Force Training School, Teshi in Ghana and subsequently attended MONS Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, UK. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant as of 4 November 1960. While in service he took the Platoon Commander Tactics Course at the Nigerian Military Training College, the Joint Services Staff Course at Latner, United Kingdom, and also studied at the National Defence College, India.^[2]

Army career

Jalo's promotion history was Lieutenant: 7 April 62, Captain: 20 September 64, Major: 10 June 67, Lt Colonel: 11 May 68, Colonel: 1 April 70, Brigadier General: 1 October 73, Major General: 1 January 76, Lt General: 15 April 80. His first posting was with the 2 Brigade Transport Company, after which he became ADC to the General Officer Commanding Royal Nigerian Army. After a series of commands in the infantry, he was appointed Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Defence Academy, GOC 3 Infantry Division, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Army Staff and finally Chief of Defence Staff.^[2]

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