Biography of Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro

Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro (12 September 1940 – 14 May 2021) was a Nigerian army lieutenant general and a military administrator.

Dogonyaro was born in Vom, Plateau State, though a native of Taroh in Langtang North Local Government Area. He had his early education at Boys’ Secondary School, Gindiri, and thereafter, was enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1964. He also attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos and obtained National Institute.

He was commissioned Second-Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, 1967; Officer Commanding, 1 Recce Squadron, NA, 1967–69; Quartermaster General, I Infantry Division (Main), NA, 1969–70. He became Chief Instructor and Adjutant, Rece Training School, NA, 1970 to 1972; Commanding Officer, I Recce Regiment, N.A., 1972 to 1976. He was appointed Principal Staff Officer, Headquarters, Nigerian Army Armoured Corp, 1976 to 1977; Commanding Officer, 24 Armoured Brigade, N.A., 1977–79.

Between 1984 and 1985, he was made the Task Force Commanding Officer, 203 Armoured Battalion on the Peace-keeping Force in Chad; Director of Manning (Army), Army Headquarters, ‘A’ Branch, N.A. and Director of Armoury, 1985.

He was also the General Officer Commanding 3 Armoured Division, Nigerian Army, Jos, 1985 to 1987; mm: Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC), 1985; General Officer Commanding 2nd Mechanised Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, 1987; promoted to Major-General, 1988; promoted to Lt. General; he was ECOMOG Commander from September 1990 to February 1991; he retired from the army in 1993.

He was said to be a member of the dreaded Langtang Mafia in Nigeria’s military circle,[4] a rumoured clique of military men from Langtang in Plateau State who were in powerful positions in government. During the 1985 coup, which deposed Major-General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime was Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro, then a Colonel, on the 26/27th. Announcing the deposing of Buhari’s regime saying:

“A small group of individuals in the Supreme Military Council had abused their power and failed to listen to the advice of their colleagues or the public, about tackling the country’s economic problems.”

Lieutenant General Joshua Dogonyaro was reported to be among the top military high-ranking officers who were Anti-June 12, who supported the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election which denied the acclaimed winner, Chief MKO Abiola after overwhelming support to win the presidential election.

He died on Thursday, 14 May 2021 at the age of 80 at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos.