Adieu! Gen. Zaruwa – His Life And Times

In honour of the meritorious and uncommon service of General AJohn Samuel Zaruwa fondly acclaimed as a “Peoples’ General” would require a full book to be exhaustive. What you are reading is only a peep into the person, live and service of the “Bull” General Zaruwa to a calling he described as a vocation to the Army, humanity and the nation. th Maj Gen John Samuel Zaruwa (also known as Kwahel Marnda) was born on the 25 November, 1959 at Biang, (the fourth child) Bazza into the family of Late Mr. Marnda Ge-Jaftle and Mrs Rose Marnda all of blessed memory.

Placed under the guidance of his uncle Late Capt. Musa Nzarwa (rtd), young John attended Demonstration Primary School, Bazza, Adamawa State and Army Children School, Nsukka, in the Present day Enugu State. He later went to University High School, Nsukka and then the prestigious Barewa College, Zaria, where he finished his secondary education, successfully.

General Zaruwa was commissioned as an Officer of the Nigeria Army on the 10th of December 1982. With the special grace of God Zaruwa meritoriously posted a stellar career over a period of 35 years and retired on 30th November 2015 without blemish.

Blessed with a lovely wife Mrs. Esther K. Zaruwa and two children and an extended family that was his first love and responsibility. As an officer, he was a leader per excellence, a mentor for all who served under him and to all who came in contact with him. General Zaruwa took all responsibilities assigned to him with a commitment so rare that failure was not contemplation.

His sense of diligence to details of command and duty were exemplary. His mantra was a zero tolerance to failure. No wonder his service to the Army was a harvest of garlands and decorations for excellence and decorations for bravery, leadership and dedication. Some of these decorations includes the following; Force Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, General Service Star, Command Medal, Training Service Star, Field Command Medal, Pass Staff Course (Dagger) and Defence Staff Course A BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL JOHN SAMUEL ZARUWA: AS A LIFE OF BRAVERY IN SERVICE AND CHARITY TO HUMANITY 13 RAL J. S. ZA E R N U E W G A R ( O R J T A D M ) 02 RAL J. S. ZA E R N U E W G A R ( O R J T A D M ) (Dagger).

General Zaruwa was among the finest of Officers’ of his time attending a list of military training and courses within the country and abroad including Young Officers’ Course Armour; Young Of
cers’ Course Infantry; Platoon Commanders’ Course  Armour; Forward Air Controllers’ Course; Range Management Basic Course; Range Management Advanced Course; Automobile Instructors’ Course; Basic French Course; Driving and Maintenance Instructors’ Course United Kingdom; Junior Course; Company Commanders’ Course Armour; Senior Course and National Defence Course.

 

Throughout his career general Zaruwa embraced all command postings and duties with an open mind and was driven by a determination to leave wherever he was sent to better than he met it. These postings were hybrid and on all scores, he left a star performance behind for his successors. Some of these postings include Adjutant 211 Tank Battalion; Adjutant 212 Tank Battalion; Company commander 212 Tank Battalion; General Staff Officer 111 Training (Nigeria Army Armour School; General Staff Officer 11 Operations and Maintenance, Headquarters 3 Armour Division; Automotive Instructor (Nigeria Army Armour School); Military Assistant to Corps Commandant (Headquarter Nigeria Army Armour Corps and School);

General Staff Officer 11 Examinations (Army Headquarters Department of Training and Operations); Directing Staff (Command and Staff School); Commanding Officer (234 Battalion) and Chief Instructor Army Division (Armed Forces Command and Staff College) General Zaruwa was also at a point Director of Manpower (Army) Department of Army Administration; Directing Staff (National Defence College); Principal Staff Officer Coordination (National Defence College); Deputy Commandant (Headquarters

Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre); Coordinator Peace Keeping Operations (Ministry of Defence); Commandant Nigerian Army Peace Keeping centre); General Officer Commanding (Headquarter 3  Armoured Division); Director Transformation (Defence Headquarters) and Chief of Logistics (Defence Headquarters). Throughout his career in the Army, being a Commander to General Zaruwa meant leading from the front. For him issuing instructions were not enough to get the job done.

This explains why when it was time to ush out insurgents operating within his area of Command as General Of
cer Commanding 3 Armoured Division, he led his 14 RAL J. S. ZA E R N U E W G A R ( O R J T A D M ) 02 RAL J. S. ZA E R N U E W G A R ( O R J T A D M ) officers and men into battle in the field himself.

Under his direct leadership into the theatre of battle, General Zaruwa led his men under OPERATION ZAMAN LAFIYA to flush out insurgents from BOLMO forests in Bauchi state that were terrorizing the zone at the time. The bravery displayed by General Zaruwa in that operation singled him out as one of the few GOC who led his men personally into battle. This was also repeated in Michika against the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents in 2016, while he and his men initially denied them access to Mubi and environs.

This fearlessness was noticed very early in his career. As a young officer, then a 2nd Lieutenant in 1988, General Zaruwa led Operation Harmony to Kinasara and later High Culum in which Nigerian troops, Ketewa and later Kilbua against Cameroun forces that had occupied Nigerian territories in the Lake Chad. General Zaruwa was a man with the highest vision for the Nigerian Army and his Country.

He desired and hoped that one day Nigeria would be a nation where equality and fairness reigned supreme. General Zaruwa brought this to bear in the assignment as REFORM DRIVER for the Armed Forces in his capacity as Director Transformation. His reform recommendations were hailed by the top leadership of the Armed Forces. To close associates and friends General Zaruwa lived a very exemplary and religious life guided by his
rm belief in the doctrines of the Catholic Church.

Blessed with high command and education, he preferred to reach out to every person he came in contact, with a sense of humility and selfless service. In addition to various military certifications and education, General Zaruwa also held a Certi
cate in Education from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Bachelor of Science Degree in War Studies and Masters’ Degree in Strategic Studies. He is survived by his wife and two children. May God grant him eternal rest. Amen