05/12/2019
Former Kogi Military Administrator, Late Col. Bzigu Lassa Afakirya of Borno.
Afakirya was born at Askira-Uba LGA in Borno State on 20 July, 1949. After his early primary school education in the ancient town of Lassa, the young Bzigu proceeded to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, Kaduna State between 1962 and 1966.
He was a cadet at the Nigeria Defence Academy Kaduna graduating as a commissioned Second Lieutenant in June, 1973. As an outstanding student, Afakirya bags the prestigious Sword of Honour as the Best-All Round Cadet, the first in order of merit at the academy.
After being commissioned, he first served under the Second Division of the Nigerian Army in Osogbo, Osun State, between 1973 and 1977.
In 1977, Col. Afakirya was posted to 231 Tank Battalion in Gombe, present day Gombe State as Company Commander.
The same year, he proceeded to 221 Tank Battalion Nsukka, Enugu State as Company Commander and later Acting Commanding Officer.
Between Aug. 1986 and July 1987, he studied at the Command and Staff College Jaji where he was decorated with passed staff college (psc).
From 1987 to 1990 he was appointed the Brigade Major at the Armoured Brigade Maiduguri. From 1990, he served as Battalion Commander in Bama, Borno State, he was there until 1993 when he was posted to Armoured Corps, Bauchi as General Staff Officer I Training and Operations from 1993 to 1995.
Between 1995 and 1996 Col.
Afakirya was the Battalion Commander Nguru, Yobe State. He has attended several military courses in Nigeria, United Kingdom, United States of America and Sweden.
These include the Platoon Commanders’ course at Command and Staff College, Jaji 1977; the Young Armour Officers’ course, 1978; Company Commanders’ course 1980; the Junior Division of the Command and Staff college, Jaji, 1980; Senior Division of the Command and Staff College, Jaji 1986-1987 and Commanding Officers course at CSC, Jaji 1991.
Col. Afakirya was a member of the Yobe State Executive Council before his appointment on August 14, as the third Military Administrator and Fourth Chief Executive of Kogi state.
He died in 2015.