Muhammed Shuwa
| Muhammed Shuwa | |
|---|---|
| Federal Commissioner of Trade | |
|
In office 1975–1979 |
|
| Succeeded by | Isaac Shaahu as Minister of Commerce |
| General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army | |
|
In office August 1967 – September 1969 |
|
| Succeeded by | Brig. I.D. Bisalla |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater |
Barewa College Regular Officers Special Training School (Teshie) R.M.A. Sandhurst |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Nigeria
|
| Service/branch |
 Nigerian Army
|
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands |
1 Division Nigerian Army 5th Battalion, Kano |
Mohammed Shuwa (September 1, 1939 – November 2, 2012) was a Nigerian Army Major General and the first General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army's 1st Division. Shuwa commanded the Nigerian Army's 1st Division during the Nigerian Civil War. He was murdered in Maiduguri by suspected Boko Haram sect on November 2, 2012.
Shuwa was born in Masharte, Borno State on September 1, 1939. He attended Kala Elementary School (1946-1947), Bama Central Elementary School (1948-1950), Bornu Middle School (1950-1952), and Barewa College, Zaria for his secondary education (1952-1957). He was classmates with Gen. Murtala Muhammed at Barewa and at subsequent military institutions. Along with Murtala Muhammed and others such as Illiya Bisalla, and Ibrahim Haruna, Shuwa joined the Nigerian Army on September 19, 1958 and pursued his preliminary cadet training at the Regular Officers Special Training School in Teshie, Ghana. He received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in July 1961 after completing officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Then Lt. Col Shuwa was Commander of the 5th Battalion in Kano during the Nigerian Army Mutiny of July 1966 where many Igbo military officers were systematically murdered by their northern counterparts for what the northern officers perceived as retribution for the January 15, 1966 coup (which was led by mostly Igbo officers). Shuwa's deputy at the 5th Battalion, then Major James Oluleye took the initiative by asking his company commanders to lock up the battalion armory and hand over the armory keys in Olulye's armory safe. As a result of Shuwa and Oluleye's leadership, the lives of many Igbo officers during the July mutiny were saved.
...
Wikipedia