President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sorrow over the tragic death of Sen. John Shagaya and condoled the family over the loss.
In a statement issued in Abuja, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, President Buhari offered his genuine condolences to Shagaya’s friends, the Government and people of Plateau State on the painful death of their illustrious son.
Mr. Dan Dandur, former Chairman, Langtang North Local Government confirmed Shagaya died in an auto crash while moving from Langtang to the Plateau capital of Jos. He said the accident occurred at Amper in Kanke Local Government of the State.
President Buhari, however, paid tribute to Shagaya whom he described as a great Nigerian whose legacies would live on in the patriotic work he did as a military officer.
He noted that the deceased rose to the position of a General, and a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic that ably represented the Plateau Southern zone.
He added that the deceased was always ready to offer his best to the development and stability of the country, he prayed that Almighty God would comfort all who mourned him and grant his soul eternal rest.
Shagaya, who attended Junior Primary School at Nyer and Sudan United Mission (S.U.M) Primary School, Langtang between 1952-1959, later went to the Nigeria Military School (N.M.S) Zaria in 1960-1964.
After graduation from the Nigeria Military school, Zaria, Shagaya was posted to the Nigerian Army Corps before attending the first short service Combatant Commission Course at Nigeria Defence Academy (N.D.A) Kaduna, in 1967.
He was later posted to 3 Marine Command upon commission, where he participated in the Nigeria Civil War from 1967-1970.
Shagaya became the first Field Commander to chair the Conference of the Joint Chief of Staff of the enlarged ECOMOG having commanded the 1st mechanized division in the Nigerian Army including a platoon, company, battalion, and brigade.
Shagaya was a politician, Director of the defunct Lion Bank (Nig.) Plc between 1998-2003, and an author of books: “The Tarok History”, “Governance in Nigeria: The IBB ERA, an Insider’s View” and ”The Ministry of Internal Affairs, an Overview”, he died at age 76.