Major General GA Innih (rtd) is Dead
From
Nowa Omoigui
There is word of the death of Major General GA Innih (rtd). If confirmed,
this is an incredible loss of one of the most brilliant, yet unsung, mid-level
commanders of the Nigerian civil war.
When he was first posted to the 3rd Marine Cdo, as Brigade Major in the 14 Bde
under Lt. Col. Pius Eromobor, Innih took part in the planning for the fall of
Port-Harcourt. In fact he was the acting Bde Commander when 14 Brigade
seized Port-Harcourt airport after an assault that began at Bori, through
Elelenwa to Umurukushi. After the link up with 18 Bde at Igrita he was
later appointed substantive Commander of the 14 Brigade for the final Air, Land
and sea push into Port-Harcourt. Innih was also instrumental to the subsequent
fall of Arochukwu (after initial link up with Owerrinta and Owerri).
Then Major Innih was the commander of the 13 Brigade of the 3rd Marine Commando
(under then Colonel Obasanjo) that ended the civil war after clearing the
Arochukwu/Ohafia bulge, moving into Awomama and Owerri on two axes in a through
put advance to Uli-Ihiala and Okigwe.
Innih was responsible for the final (2nd) fall of Owerri and the seizure of
Ojukwu's bunker. It was also Innih that captured the Biafran Radio Station
near Ovim, from where Okonkon Ndem had operated.
SNAPSHOT OF HIS LIFE:
Born: September 25, 1938, Agenebode, Edo State
Civilian Education:
Catholic Primary School, Akure, Ondo State (1947-51)
Government School, Warri (1952-53)
Holy Cross Catholic School, Benin City, 1954
Edo College, Benin-City, 1955-60
School of Agriculture, Akure, 1961
Military Education
Mons Officer Cadet School, Hans, England, 1962
Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, England, 1962-64
Staff College, Camberly, England, 1972
MILITARY CAREER
Commissioned 2/Lt - 1964
1964-65: Platoon Commander, 4 Battalion, Ibadan
Promoted Lt. - 1965
1966: 2ic Alpha Company, 4 Battalion, Ibadan
Promoted Captain. - 1966
1966: Chief Instructor, Military, Nigerian Military
School, Zaria
1967-68: Deputy Military Secretary, SHQ, Lagos
Promoted Major - 1968
1968-69: Brigade Major, 14th Bde, 3rd Marine Commando
1969: Colonel GS, 3rd Marine Cdo
1969-70: Brigade Commander, 13 Infantry Bde, 3rd
Marine Cdo
Promoted Lt. Col. - 1971
1971: Colonel GS, Ops & Trg, AHQ
1972-73: Colonel GS, 1st Infantry Div, Kaduna
Promoted Colonel - 1973
1974-75: Bde Commander, 5 Inf Bde, Onitsha
1975 - Member, Committee on Reorganization of the
Nigerian Army
1975-76: Military Governor of Bendel State
Promoted Brigadier - 1976
1976-78: Military Governor, Kwara State
1978-79: Quarter-Master-General, Nigerian Army
Promoted Major General - 1979
1979-80: GOC, 1st Infantry Division, Kaduna
Voluntary Retirement - 1980
_____________________
NATIONAL AWARD
1982 - Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR)
_____________________
CIVILIAN LIFE AFTER THE MILITARY
MD, Niger-Valley Agro Industries, Ltd
MD, Tamsaks (Nig) Ltd
Chairman, Bridgestone Finance Ltd, Lagos
Chairman, American International Insurance Company
Director, Technoexportstroy
Director, Bendel, Bendel Feed and Flour Mills, Ltd
Director, Security Assistance, plc
Director, Broad Bank of Nigeria, Ltd
Director, Bone Feeds, Ltd
1st National VP, Poultry Association of Nigeria
HONORARY DEGREE
1998 - Doctor of Law, University of Ilorin