Ishaya Bamaiyi

Ishaya Bamaiyi Biography / Profile

Ishaya Bamaiyi was born on September 21st, 1949 in Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria. He was a former Chief of Army Staff, COAS, under General Sani Abacha.

Ishaya Bamaiyi Age

Ishaya Bamaiyi would have been 74 years old, if he were alive today. May his soul rest in peace.

Ishaya Bamaiyi Career

Bamaiaya was Short serviced commissioned into the Nigerian Army infantry Corps in 1968 as a member of SSC 4 he attended the following courses:

Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna, 1968
Young Officers infantry Course 1971
Advanced Infantry Company Commanders Course, UK, 1976
Command and General Staff College United States 1981-82
International Management Course, USA, 1986
Senior Executive Course, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos. 1992

Prior to becoming the Chief of Army Staffin May 1996, he held the following post:

Adjutant. 182 Infantry Battalion. 1968-1970
Commanding Officer 70 Infantry Battalion, 1972–1977
Directing Staff, Command and Staff College, Jaji, 1982–1984
Commander. 9 Mechanised Brigade, 1986–1990
Commander, Brigade of Guards, 1990–1992
Director Training, Army Headquarters, Department of Operations, 1992–1993
Commander. Lagos Garrison Command. 1993-1996

Bamaiyi was appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in March 1996 by General Sanni Abacha. He served as COAS for 3 years until his retirement on May 1999. He was succeeded by Lt-Gen. S.V.L. Malu.

Bamaiaya was arrested in October 1999 and detained at a military barracks, from where was brought to Lagos to face trial along with Danbaba, a former Lagos police commissioner; Yakubu, a former state military administrator; major Hamzat al-Mustapha, former secuity aide to the late dictator Sani Abacha; and Mohammed Rabo Lawal, a chief superintendent of police. Although Bamaiyi and the four others were formally charged in Ikeja on November 23rd, 1999 "with conspiracy and attempted murder, the Federal High Court in Abuja reportedly ordered his release "pending the determination of a substantive suit he filed."

Ishaya Bamaiyi Personal Life

His older brother was Major General Musa Bamaiyi, former Head of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). They reportedly feuded for years leading to Musa seeking redress from the Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission (HRVIC) Panel, headed by Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.