A Fitting Memorial for Late General Irefin

Late General Olu Irefin was a people’s general in character and learning until death struck. One year after his unfortunate demise, Sunday Ehigiator reports that to honour his service to the nation, a new extension of the military infantry headquarters was recently built in his memory

It was indeed a sad day for the Nigerian Army, and Nigeria as a whole, following the sudden death of one of her finest generals, General Irefin, who died of COVID-19 complications on December 10, 2021.

Ill Health that Led to Death

Narrating how he died, Army Spokesman Sagir Musa said Irefin was attending the annual Chief of Army Staff conference in Abuja before he suddenly took ill and died days later.

According to him, “While at Giri, the general started complaining of discomfort. Despite the discomfort, he was at phase 2 in a life camp for the commissioning of a housing scheme for families of officers and soldiers killed in action from where he left the venue for his accommodation.

“He was later taken to Defence Medical Centre the same day at about 9:25pm having complained of fever, headache and mild cough.

“Medical history revealed that he was treated for malaria with parenteral artemether a week ago at 6 Division Medical Services and Hospital Port Harcourt where he was the GOC.

“He had a fever but oxygen saturation was normal at 99 per cent. Other vital signs were essentially stable on presentation.

“A working diagnosis of drug resistant malaria to rule out lobar pneumonia and COVID-19 infection was made. He was also placed on ceftriaxone and COVID-19 test was requested.

“Consequently, in the morning of December 8, 2020, the fever and cough have subsided and he was eating well. On the same day, he was discharged after his sample for COVID-19 test had been taken and was requested to self isolate pending the outcome of the test.

“On December 9, 2020, the result of the COVID-19 test conducted on him was positive.

“As a result, he was taken to 063 Nigerian Airforce Hospital Abuja where his SpO saturation was noted to be well reduced to between 55 to 60 per cent.

“He was then immediately taken to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja by the Commander 063 NAF Hospital for further management. At the hospital, he was immediately admitted and placed on high flow oxygen.

“An initial improvement of 80 to 82 per cent oxygen saturation was noticed. He was then commenced on Anti viral agent remdesivir based on the COVID-19 test result.

“Other treatments included the usual COVID-19 treatment cocktail. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, at about 5:10am hours on Thursday December 10, 2020, the Commander 063 NAF Hospital Abuja was informed that the senior officer desaturated again and eventually died.

“The cause of his death was reported as respiratory failure secondary to the complications of COVID-19 infection.”

Prior to his death, the Kogi born General was the GOC of 6 Division, Port Harcourt.

An Outstanding Officer

Speaking on his demise, Kogi State Governor, Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, described Irefin as an outstanding general, a chemistry of brilliance, bravery, courage and one with an inalienable loyalty to Nigeria.

The governor, through a statement signed on December 10, 2020, by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo said the state will commence an urgent movement to name the State College of Science after the late general.

“The late Army General who was the GOC, 6 Div. recently gave her late mum a befitting last honour. For him to die a few weeks after burying his mother is heart rendering.

“Like many outstanding generals, Kogi has produced; the Late Gen. Irefin was a chemistry of brilliance, bravery, courage and inalienable loyalty to the Nigerian nation.

“For years, he defended Nigeria as a committed Army Officer and also the integrity of the Army. Nigeria has lost a green-heart-fighter who gave all to his nation and her people. The Late General Olubunmi Irefin was not just a brave soldier; but also an accomplished scholar of repute.

“To this end, the Kogi State government shall be putting in place, modalities to rename the Government Science Secondary School, Okedayo as Olu Irefin Science Secondary School, Okedayo. This is to inspire a new generation of Kogi youth to embrace hard work and excellence,” it read.

Memorial

While much was not heard about the promise by the governor, the late general’s constituency- Infantry Corps, recently thought it wise to raise a memorial to celebrate the quintessential general.

To do this, senior Infantry Officers, with the kind support of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya donated funds, and built a new extension of the military infantry headquarters, in Jaji, Zaria area of Kaduna State.

The building was commissioned on November 11, 2021, by the Honourable Minister of Defence, Retired Major General Bashir Magashi, with Irefin’s widowed wife, Mrs. Tosin Irefin, and brother, Olayemi Irefin, both in attendance.

According to the minister, the Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre Office Extension “was constructed in memory of Major General Irefin, in recognition of his meritorious and professional service to the Nigerian Army.”