Gibson Jalo

Gibson Sanda Jalo CFR FSS JSS (1 March 1939 – 10 January 2000) was a Nigerian Army lieutenant general, who was the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from April 1980 until October 1981.^[1] He also served as the Chief of Defence Staff from 1981 to 1983 during the Nigerian Second Republic.

Lieutenant general Gibson Sanda Jalo CFR FSS JSS
Chief of Defence Staff
In office 2 October 1981 – 31 December 1983
Preceded by	Ipoola Alani Akinrinade
Succeeded by	Domkat Bali
Chief of Army Staff
In office April 1980 – October 1981
Preceded by	Ipoola Alani Akinrinade
Succeeded by	Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi
Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy
In office August 1975 – January 1978
Preceded by	Brig Illiya Bisalla
Succeeded by	Brig E.S. Armah
Personal details
Born	Gibson Sanda Jalo 1 March 1939 Demsa, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Adamawa State, Nigeria)
Died	10 January 2000(2000-01-10) (aged 60)
Alma mater	Mons Officer Cadet School National Defence College
Military service
Allegiance	Nigeria
Branch/service	Nigerian Army
Rank	Lieutenant general

Birth and Education

Gibson Jalo was born on 1 March 1939 at Demsa in Adamawa State. He attended Yola Middle School (1950–1953) and Government College Keffi (1953–1958). He enlisted in the Infantry Corps of the Royal Nigerian Military Force in 1959. He took the Regular Officers Cadet training course at the Royal West African Frontier Force Training School, Teshi in Ghana and subsequently attended MONS Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, UK. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant on 4 November 1960. While in service, he took the Platoon Commander Tactics Course at the Nigerian Military Training College, the Joint Services Staff College Course at Latimer, United Kingdom, and also studied at the National Defence College, India, in the late 1970s.^[2]

Army Career

"Lt. Col. G. S. Jalo (sic) Commander, 2nd Division. New Nigerian newspaper, page 7, January 1970. End of the Nigerian civil war with Biafra.

His first posting was with the 2 Brigade Transport Company, after which he became ADC to the General Officer Commanding Royal Nigerian Army. After a series of commands in the infantry, he was appointed Commandant of the Nigeria Defence Academy, GOC 3rd Armoured Division, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Army Staff and finally Chief of Defence Staff.^[2]

Dates of Ranks

Rank	Date
Lieutenant	7 April 1962
Captain	20 September 1964
Major	10 June 1967
Lieutenant Colonel	11 May 1968
Colonel	1 April 1970
Brigadier General	1 October 1973
Major General	1 January 1976
Lieutenant General	15 April 1980