I run and jump like an 18-year-old – General John Atom Kpera
Brigadier-General John Atom Kpera spent 24 years in the Nigerian military, where he served in many key positions. He was the military governor of the Southeastern State between 1975 and 1978 under the Murtala/Obasanjo regime, and later, the military governor of his home state, Benue, under General Muhammadu Buhari (1984-85). He retired 41 years ago […]
Brigadier-General John Atom Kpera, a retired military officer, spent 24 years in the Nigerian military before retiring 41 years ago. He served in several key positions, including as the military governor of the Southeastern State and his home state, Benue. Born in 1941, Kpera was the fourth child and faced challenges in his early life due to a medical condition that made him appear weak.
His father did not have much hope for his survival, leading him to be sent to his grandmother at the age of four. Kpera grew up with his grandmother and later attended school in Gboko, his current hometown. He joined the army in 1956 and was initially sent to Ethiopia for training, where he became friends with both fellow soldiers and foreign cadets.
After completing his training, Kpera returned to Nigeria and was commissioned in the Nigerian Army Engineers. When the 1966 coup took place, Kpera was stationed in Kaduna and participated in the events that unfolded, including a night attack on Radio Nigeria, Kaduna.
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