Godwin Alabi-Isama

Brigadier General

Godwin Alabi-Isama
Born (1940-12-24) 24 December 1940 (age 83)
Ilorin, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Kwara State, Nigeria)
Allegiance Nigeria
Service / branch Nigerian Army
Years of service1960–1977
Rank Brigadier general
Commands3 Marine Commando Division
Battles / warsNigerian Civil War
Alma materMons Officer Cadet School

Godwin Alabi-Isama (born 24 December 1940) is a Nigerian retired military officer,[1] author[2] and statesman who served as chief of staff to Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle of the 3 Marine Commando during the Nigerian Civil War.[3][4]

Early life and education

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Alabi-Isama was born on 24 December 1940, in Ilorin, Kwara State, to a Ukwani (Delta State) father and a Yoruba (Ilorin) mother. He attended Ibadan Boys High School.[5] In 1960, he joined the Army and attended the Mons Officer Cadet School in the United Kingdom and the Senior Tactics School and Staff College in Quella, Pakistan.[6] Alabi-Isama was a tactics instructor at the Nigerian Military School in Zaria, Nigeria and the Nigerian Military Training College (now Nigerian Defence Academy) in Kaduna prior to the civil war.[7]

"Alabi-Isama (second right) briefing Col. Obasanjo (third right), Col. (Rev Father) Pedro Martins on plan of Op Pincer2 during the Nigerian civil war"

Brigadier-General Alabi-Isama served as the commander of the troops stationed at the Niger Bridge in Asaba,[8] He was subsequently transferred by the Army Headquarters to the 3 Marina Commando, 3MCDO, operating on the Calabar front during the war.[9][10] Alabi-Isama led forces against the Biafran Republic, successfully liberating various locations including Odukpani, Ikot-Okpora, Iwuru, Akunakuna, Itigidi, Ediba, Ugep, Obubra, Afikpo, Oban, and Ekang. He also "closed" the international border with Biafra at Nssakpa, as detailed in his book, The Tragedy of Victory.[11]

In April 1968, Alabi-Isama and his 3MCDO men embarked on a mission to recapture Creek Town, Itu, Uyo, Ikot-Ekpene, Oron, Eket, Opobo, Abak, Etinan, Bori-Ogoni, Akwete, Afam, Aletu Ekene, Elelenwo, Okrika, and Port-Harcourt, successfully completing the operation the following month."[12] After the war, Alabi-Isama assumed the role of the Nigerian Army's Principal General Staff Officer. In 1973, he served as the Acting Governor of the Mid-Western Region, where he notably received the first group of National Youth Service Corps members, as recounted in his autobiography. Following his retirement as a Brigadier-General from the Army in 1977, Alabi-Isama relocated to the United States.[13]

Role in the Nigeria Civil War

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Alabi-Isama played a pivotal role in leading the troops that successfully liberated the remaining parts of Cross River State following Colonel Adekunle's amphibious sea landing at Calabar.[14] Furthermore, he commanded the 3 Marine Commando troops that effectively captured the present-day states of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa.[15] His strategic planning, specifically the implementation of the Pincer 2 strategy, played a crucial role in bringing an end to the Nigerian Civil War.[16][17]

Writing

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The Tragedy of Victory: On-the-Spot Account of the Nigeria-Biafra War in the Atlantic Theatre is a sequential narrative of the war that lasted from 6 July 1967 to 15 January 1970 which was published in 2013.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Retired Army General links NASCO's founder to terrorism financing". Businessday. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  2. ^ ""Stop lying before you die" – Alabi-Isama rubbishes Obasanjo's book". Dailypost. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Civil War veteran, Alabi Isama, replies Obasanjo; says ex-president an 'incredible opportunist'". Premiumtimes. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Brig Gen Alabi Isama at 82What inspired him from childhood to become a soldier". Thenewsnigeria. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  5. ^ "An encounter with Gen. Alabi-Isama". PMNews. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  6. ^ "How Brig Gen Alabi Isama was inspired from childhood to become a soldier". PMNews. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  7. ^ "My Response To Olusegun Obasanjo's "My Watch" By Godwin Alabi-Isama". PMNews. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  8. ^ "How Murtala's error caused death of 1,500 federal troops in a day – Alabi-Isama in memoirs". Thenation. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  9. ^ "War Veteran Says Obasanjo's Civil War Memoir Is Full Of Errors". Channels TV. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Alabi-Isama's memoir: War by other means". Thenation. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Gen. Alabi-Isama's Biafara". Thenation. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Okon ambushes General Alabi Isama". Thenation. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  13. ^ "The Platform: Big Talk With Brigadier General Godwin Alabi-Isama (Retd.)". Youtube. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Lies Achebe told about the civil war, by Gen. Alabi Isama". Thenation. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Obasanjo a sadist, serial betrayer - Gen. Alabi-Isama". PMNews. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  16. ^ "'The lowest point of my life is meeting Obasanjo' -Brig-Gen. Alabi-Isama". Encomium. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Throwback: Day Biafrans shot Obasanjo in the buttocks-Gen Alabi Isama". PMNews. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  18. ^ "The real tragedy of victory". Thenation. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
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