The United Nations has expressed sorrow over the death of Lieutenant General Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor, a former UN Military Adviser for Peacekeeping Operations and one of Nigeria’s most respected military officers.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric conveyed the organisation’s condolences during a press briefing in New York on Friday, extending sympathy to Obiakor’s family, friends, the Government of Nigeria and the Nigerian people.
According to him, Obiakor served as Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia, an appointment made during the tenure of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
He later made history as the first African to occupy the position of Military Adviser for UN Peacekeeping Operations at the organisation’s headquarters in New York.
After retiring from active military service, he remained engaged with the United Nations, contributing to several high-level assignments, including leading Boards of Inquiry into conflicts in South Sudan, Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The UN described him as a dedicated officer whose career reflected strong leadership, professionalism and commitment to global peace and security.
A statement by retired Air Commodore Sani Zakari confirmed that Obiakor passed away on Wednesday at a hospital in Abuja at the age of 75.
Born on February 18, 1951, in Zaria, Kaduna State, he originally hailed from Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
He attended the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, before proceeding to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1971 as part of the 10th Regular Course, a generation that went on to play key roles in Nigeria’s military development and peacekeeping engagements.
Commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1973, Obiakor rose steadily through the ranks, distinguished by discipline, operational expertise and academic excellence.
He later attended the National War College (now National Defence College) and obtained a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan.
Over the course of his career, he held several senior command and staff positions, including General Officer Commanding the 2 Mechanised Division in Ibadan and Chief of Army Administration at Army Headquarters.
Colleagues described him as a calm but firm leader with deep understanding of multinational military operations.
He also gained international recognition during the Liberian civil war, where he commanded the ECOMOG Artillery Brigade between 1996 and 1997.
The late military officer is remembered for his contributions to peacekeeping operations and his role in shaping modern military leadership within Nigeria and beyond.