News Editor
By Ibrahim Nasiru
Wednesday, 20th May 2026 (3 Zul Hijja 1447) will forever be remembered as a somber day, marking the moment a consummate gentleman, a decorated officer, and an international peacekeeper marched into the great beyond.
The passing of Major Mohammed Osana, affectionately known by friends and peers as “Kurry,” is a profound loss not just to his family and community, but to the nation and the global peacekeeping community he served until his final breath.
Mohammed’s journey was defined by an unyielding, fierce ambition to serve. Upon completing his secondary education at Government Secondary School (GSS) Wamba in 1982—where he was celebrated as an outstanding handball player who brought energy and discipline to the court—his singular dream was to join the military.
Though initial doors did not open, his drive did not waver. He redirected his sharp intellect to Bayero University, Kano (BUK), where he excelled brilliantly, graduating as the Best Student in the Department of Political Science. Yet, the lecture halls could not extinguish the fire of his true calling.
Armed with his degree, he made one last daring, successful push, commissioning into the Nigerian Army through the Direct Short Service. Ambition achieved; a lifetime of service born.
As an officer, Major Osana personified courage and tactical competence. He served across various commands, refined his leadership at the prestigious Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, and stood on the frontlines of regional security as a vital member of the ECOMOG peacekeeping force in Liberia.
When Zamfara State was created, his impeccable record of discipline made him the natural choice to serve as the pioneer Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the first Military Administrator, then-Col. Bala Jibrin Yakubu (now the revered Emir of Wuse).
Yet, for all his exploits across distant terrains, Major Osana never forgot his roots. His exceptional dedication and meritorious service to his own people did not go unnoticed. In recognition of his community leadership and unwavering patriotism, he was conferred with the prestigious traditional title of the Magajin Garin Keana by His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdullahi Amegwa Agbo III.
He wore this traditional mantle with the same dignity and pride with which he wore his military uniform.Even in retirement, his reputation for unwavering commitment followed him.
The United Nations drafted him into its peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo—a testament to a man whose courage could not be confined by borders. It is a poignant, heroic truth that Major Osana died in active service to humanity, wearing the blue helmet of peace, standing between vulnerable populations and the ravages of conflict.
He leaves behind a proud legacy, a devoted wife, and five children who will forever carry the honourable name of a man who lived and died for a cause greater than himself.
Major Mohammed Osana, you fought the good fight. You conquered the court in Wamba, excelled in the halls of Kano, defended West Africa in Liberia, secured the foundations of Zamfara, anchored the peace in Congo, and served your home land with distinction as the Magajin Garin Keana.
The trumpet has sounded, and the final parade is over. May Aljannah Firdaus be your abode, gallant soldier.
Your watch is ended.
Chief Ibrahim Nasiru
A Public Affairs Analyst writes from Abuja
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