Major General Yohanna Yerima Kure, former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu and 2 Mechanized Division, Ibadan is dead. He was aged 84.
General Kure died on November 2, 2023 at the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.
Popularly known as General YY Kure, the former Director Army Special Duties and Plans was a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) between 1985 and 1987 during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida and also a member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) during the military rule of Major General Muhammadu Buhari from 1983 to 1985.
Upon his voluntary retirement from the Nigerian Army in 1990, the respected late senior officer was appointed Minister of Culture and Social Welfare and later Minister of Sports and Youth Development by the General Babangida government.
General YY Kure gained prominence in Nigeria’s military history when in 1980 he led troops of the Nigerian Army to crush the Kano Maitatsine violent uprisings within 48 hours. The uprising was instigated by Islamist militants in Northern Nigeria. In 1982, he again led the troops to crush the Maitatsine fanatic militants in Yola.
General Kure was born into the royal family of Mallam Manchaik Kure and Mallama Tawok Kure on the 22nd of April 1939 in Kurmin Musa, Kachia Local Government Area (LGA) of 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 (NMTC), the precursor to the present-day Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1963. He was commissioned as an officer in 1964.
An experienced combatant in the civil war, General Kure was Commanding Officer of 5 Infantry Battalion in 1966; Captain and Commanding Officer of 22 Infantry Battalion in 1967. In the heat of the Nigerian civil war in 1968, as a Major, he was also Commanding Officer of another Infantry Battalion.
General YY Kure became a Lieutenant Colonel in 1974. Gaining his promotions, he was appointed as GOC 82 Division Enugu 1983-1985 and GOC 2 Division Ibadan from 1985 to 1987.
He attended the Officer Cadet School Portsea, Australia for his Cadet Development Course in 1964, Command and Staff College Jaji, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru and other local and international officer trainings courses.
Upon retirement in 1990, General Yohanna Yerima Kure attended ECWA (Evangelical Church Winning All) Theological College in Jos where he obtained his first degree and Masters in Theology. He then went into full time pastoral work.
A shining beacon and icon who inspired youths to join the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) where he had an impressive career, the late senior officer exhibited very high standards of self-control, discipline, regimentation.
A household name, General YY Kure was soft spoken and humble and was generally known as humane and a philanthropist who touched his clan, community and country in no small measure.
He is survived by his wife, siblings, children, grandchildren and relations.
A Wake Keep and Service of Songs will be held for General Kure on November 29, 2023 at ECWA Church Lemu Road, Tudun Wada Kaduna by 4pm.
On December 1, 2023, General YY Kure will be laid to rest in his hometown, Kurmin Musa, Kachia Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.