PHOTO: Gen. Dogonyaro, the ECOMOG strong man
By Our Staff Writer
One of the men credited for helping end the blood bath in Liberia, former Nigerian Defense Chief, Lt. Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro has died in his home country.
The late Gen.Dogonyaro also sereved as Force Commander of the multinational West African Peacekeeping force ECOMOG and will be remembered for the robust manner he dealt with recalcitrant armed factions during the Liberian civil war.
He offered little room for negotiations with the Taylor led NPFL faction which at the time controlled nearly 90% of the country’s total land mass.
Dogonyaro took over the force in the aftermath of the of the infamous Operation Octopus launched by the NPFL; a venture that led its fighters to lay siege to Monrovia.
The former Nigerian Chief’s first command was to order his troops to push rebels to a 45 mile radius from Monrovia.
In his message to his Nigerian counterpart, Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, President George Manneh Weah, on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Liberia, and in his own name, extended to the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and to the bereaved family, heartfelt condolences for the irreparable loss sustained.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Liberian leader noted that the late Lt. Gen. Dogonyaro will be remembered for his role as Commander of the West African Peacekeeping Force-ECOMOG during the terrible civil crisis in some West African Nations; including Liberia.
He stressed that the late Commander’s proactive leadership role in ECOMOG’s intervention in Liberia saved many lives that could have been lost without the intervention of ECOWAS. Lt. Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro died as a result of prolonged illness.
President Weah then prayed that the Almighty Allah will continue to grant His Excellency and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria strength, courage and fortitude during these difficult period of national mourning.