Ex-GOC 82 Division, Major General Yohanna Kure Dies At 84

Former General Officer Commanding 83 Division, Enugu, Major General Yohanna Kure has passed on at age 84.

Late General Yohanna Yerima Kure was a Retired Officer of the Nigerian Army. He was a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council between 1985 and 1987, at the onset of Ibrahim Babangida’s Administration and was a member of the Supreme Military Council of Nigeria from 1983 to 1985 during Buhari’s military government.

Kure was a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu and the 2 Mechanized Division, Ibadan and also Director Army Special Duties and Plans.

Upon his voluntary retirement in 1990, He was appointed Minister of Culture and Social Welfare and Minister of Sports and Youth Development.

Gen Y Y Kure as he is popularly called, gained prominence since his formative years when he led the army in crushing the Matatsine fanatical group in Kano in 1980 within 48 hours and and that of yola in 1982.

Members of a fanatical Moslem sect led an uprising in Northern Nigeria in late October that left hundreds of people dead and officials concerned about quelling the sect’s second major insurrection in two years.

He was born into the Royal family of Mallam Manchaik Kure and Mallama Tawok Kure on April 22,1939 in Kurmin Musa, Kachia LGA, Kaduna State.

He attended Missionary Schools in Kwoi and Kagoro for his elementary education before gaining admission into Provincial Secondary School Zaria popularly known as Alhudahuda.

Young Kure enlisted into the Nigerian Army through the prestigious Nigerian Military Training College (now NDA) in 1963 and was commissioned as an officer in 1964.

Since then, he had an impressive career profile because of his high standards of self control, discipline, regimentation and he in a short period became a household name.

His first foray was in Protsea Australia for further Cadet Development Course in 1964, Command and Staff College Jaji and numerous local and International officer trainings culminating in the Strategic College, NIPPS wich trained the likes of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, his bosom friend.

On Military appointments, he equally had a robust experience. He was Commanding Officer 5 Infantry Battalion in 1966; Captain and Commanding Officer 22 Infantry in 1967, in 1968 he was a Major and Commanding Officer Infantry Battalion.

He became a Lieutenant Colonel in 1974 and much later in his career, he was GOC 82 Division Enugu 1983-1985 and then GOC 2 Division Ibadan from 1985 to 1987.

Yohanna Yerima Kure retired as Officer of the Nigerian Army officer in 1990 and upon his retirement from the Military he attended ECWA Theological College in Jos where he Obtained his first degree and Masters in Theology and went into pastoral work.

He was one of the shining beacons and icons who inspired youths to join the Military.

Gen Y.Y Kure was soft-spoken and so humble that he had to be formally introduced at formal and informal functions.

He was also humane and a philanthropist, who touched his clan, community and country in no small measure.

He is survived by his wife, siblings, many children, Grandchildren and relations

A Wake keep and Service of Songs will be held on November 29, 2023 at ECWA Church Lemu Road, Tudun Wada Kaduna by 4.pm.

General Y.Y. Kure will be buried on December 1, 2023 in his hometown, Kurmin Musa, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.