The Nigerian Army, family, and friends on Tuesday bade farewell to the late Brigadier General Zakari Ahmadu Saidu, who was laid to rest at the Guards Brigade Military Cemetery, Lungi Barracks, Abuja, following a funeral marked by solemnity and honour.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, was represented at the ceremony by Major General AK Ibrahim, Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Also in attendance were senior officers from Defence and Services Headquarters, including Major General AB Ibrahim, Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), and Rear Admiral I. Dewu, Chief of Policy and Plans (Navy).
Delivering the funeral oration, Major General Ibrahim described the late officer as “brilliant, resourceful, diligent, self-assured, and a consummate professional with impeccable integrity.” He said General Saidu embodied commitment to service and was renowned for his capacity to take on responsibilities with courage and distinction.
A Life of Duty and Service
Born on 19 January 1971 in Kaduna, Saidu hailed from Kaduna North Local Government Area. Commissioned into the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps on 17 September 1994 as a member of the 41 Regular Combatant Course, he steadily rose through the ranks, attaining the position of Brigadier General in 2021.
An alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy with a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Master’s degree in Science from Mufta University, Jordan, he also held a Fellowship at the Royal National Defence College (Jordan). His career spanned over three decades, with postings that reflected versatility and depth in military service.
Until his passing on 31 August 2025, Brigadier General Saidu served at the NDA as TETFUND Desk Officer, a role he assumed in January of the same year. He was a decorated officer, honoured with the Distinguished Service Star, Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Command Medal, Nigerian Army Purple Heart, and the General Operations Medal.
Final Military Honours
The interment was conducted with full military rites, including reveille, a minute of silence, the presentation of the National Flag to his next of kin, a firing volley, and the sounding of the last post. Earlier, funeral prayers were held at the Guards Brigade Central Mosque, Mambilla Barracks, Abuja, attended by serving and retired officers, soldiers, and members of the military community.
Brigadier General Saidu’s passing marks the end of a distinguished career in the service of Nigeria, with mourners describing him as a soldier who lived with honour and died with dignity.
