Ben Dunno, Warri

A former military governor of the defunct Mid-Western Region, Major General David Ejoor (retd), is dead.

Although there was no official confirmation from either his family or the Nigerian Army, at the time of filing this report, yesterday evening, it was learnt that Ejoor, who was also a former Chief of Army Staff, passed at about 6:00p.m, yesterday, in a Lagos hospital.

He was from Ovwor, in Olomu Kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Ejoor was the oldest Olorogun (High Chief) of the Olomu Kingdom, and first Urhobo to attain the position of Major General in the Nigerian Army.

Delta State Government, however, confirmed his passage, yesterday night. In a condolence message, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, condoled with the family and said: “General Ejoor’s death is devastating. As Deltans, we are proud of his outstanding contributions to the Nigerian Army…”

But, a reliable source from the Urhobo Progress Union, disclosed that Ejoor died during a prolonged illness.

He was 87 years, having been born in Ovu community, in present day Ethiope East council of Delta state, on January 10, 1932.

He was the first indigenous Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), between 1969 and 1971, after he had served as the military governor of the Mid-Western state of the country between January 1966 and August 1967.