Jaji… a town famous for military intellectualism

It used to be known as the home of military intellectualism. Jaji, where suicide bombers struck yesterday, had been in the news for long. Many know it as the home of the Command and Staff College, where the Armed Forces, including the army, air force and navy train their officers. It is near the village of Jaji, about 35 km northeast of Kaduna in the Igabi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.
Twin explosions rocked the St. Andrew Military Protestant Church, Jaji, Kaduna State, killing 11 people and injuring 30 others, the army said.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Bolaji Koleosho, said the first explosion occurred at about 12:05 p.m while the second went off 10 minutes later.
He said the injured had been taken to the 44 Reference Hospital and the NAF Hospital, both in Kaduna.
Koleosho said that investigations had begun into the incident.
The army has restricted movement into the Jaji facility.
The bombers have tried to change the story of the community, but Jaji will remain known for its contribution to military intellectualism.
The college opened in May 1976 with two senior officers’ courses based on a curriculum derived from that of British Army Staff College, Camberley. It also boasts of a Demonstration Battalion, the Army School of Artillery, and armor support from a composite armored battalion.
In 1978, with the opening of the air faculty, Jaji was redesignated the Command and Staff College. The navy faculty was established in September 1981, assembling all senior military divisions in one campus.
When the college opened, it was giving two senior officers’ courses. In April 1978, the College was expanded when the Army Junior Division was established to conduct courses for Captains in the Army.
By 1986, 1,172 officers had graduated from Jaji’s senior divisions, and 1,320 from the junior divisions.
The original senior officers’ courses were based on a curriculum derived from that of the British Army Staff College, Camberley, and the college establishment was assisted by an advisory team from the British Army. The successor to the advisory team, the Joint Warfare Advisory Team, remained until October 1988.
In September 2005, United Kingdom Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram visited Jaji and announced that an extra 200,000 UK pounds would be allocated to assist training of over 17,000 Nigerian troops as peacekeepers in Africa. In November 2006, the Prince of Wales of the United Kingdom visited Nigeria and inspected soldiers at Jaji.
Some of its old students are: former military President Ibrahim Babangida, Emmanuel Ukaegbu, former military Administrator of Anambra State, Jonah Wuyep, former chief of the Air Staff, Femi John Femi, also a former chief of Air Staff, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governor of Osun State, Paul Obi, former administrator of Bayelsa State, Abubakar Tanko Ayuba, former governor of Kaduna State and Dominic Oneya, former administrator of Kano State and Benue State, Amadi Ikwechegh, former military governor of Imo State, Tunji Olurin, former administrator of Ekiti State and Lawan Gwadabe, former military governor of Niger State.
Although Boko Haram had not claimed responsibility for the attacks on Jaji, they bore its marks.

It remains to be seen if the attacks have anything to do with the military’s announcement offering large rewards for information leading to the capture of leaders of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram.
Military officials said 50m naira ($317,000; £197,709) was offered for help in tracking down the group’s suspected leader Abubakar Shekau.
Other alleged commanders have around 10m naira on their head.
Boko Haram has been waging an insurgency since 2009 to impose strict Sharia law across Nigeria.
The group has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks against churches and other establishments since 2009. More than 640 people have died so far this year in attacks blamed on the group.
“They are wanted in connection with terrorist activities particularly in the north-east zone of Nigeria that led to the killings, bombings and assassination of some civilians, religious leaders, traditional rulers, businessmen, politicians, civil servants and security personnel amongst others,” a military statement said.
“They are also wanted for arson and destruction of properties worth millions of naira.”
Abubakar Shekau was one of three Boko Haram leaders designated terrorists by the United States in June. The other is Khalid al-Barnawi, thought to have ties with a branch of al-Qaeda.