Maxwell Khobe

Brigadier General Maxwell Khobe
Chief of the Defence Staff of Sierra Leone
In office April 1998– April 2000
President	Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Preceded by	Hassan Conteh
Succeeded by	Tom Carew
Commander,ECOMOGPeacekeeping Force, Sierra Leone
In office August 1997 – April 1998
Preceded by	Brig-Gen. Abu Ahmadu
Succeeded by	Maj-Gen. Felix Mujakperuo
Personal details
Born	Maxwell Mitikishe Khobe (1950-01-01)1 January 1950 Zekun,Northern Region,British Nigeria(now inAdamawa State,Nigeria)
Died	18 April 2000(2000-04-18)(aged 50)
Alma mater	Nigerian Defence Academy Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji
Occupation	Military officer
Military service
Allegiance	Nigeria
Branch/service	Nigerian Army
Years of service	1969–2000
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands	ECOMOG Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces

Maxwell Mitikishe Khobe(1 January 1950 – 18 April 2000) was aNigerian armybrigadier generalwho was the commander of theECOMOGPeacekeeping Force in Sierra Leone from 1997 to 1998, and theChief of the Defence Staff of Sierra Leonefrom 1998 to 2000.

Background & education

Khobe was born in Zekun,Adamawa Stateand attended the Native Authority Junior Primary School, Dong from 1958 to 1961 and Native Authority Senior Primary School, Numan, from 1962 to 1963. He later attended the Church of the Brethren Mission, Waka Secondary School, Biu, inBorno Statefrom 1964 to 1968. In September 1969, he enlisted as a soldier and subsequently enrolled in theNigerian Defence Academy(NDA) Short Service Combatant Course 11 from 29 March 1971 until 13 September 1971 when he was commissioned an Infantry 2nd Lieutenant with seniority effective from 29 March 1971.

Career

After playing a commendable role during the so calledDimka coup attempt of 1976,Khobe was encouraged to apply for transfer to the Armoured Corps as a Captain (which he became in 1977), having already attended the Young Officer’s Course (Infantry) and a number of support weapons courses at the School of Infantry. After joining the Armoured corps, he attended the Armoured Officers Basic Course atFort Knox,Kentuckyand later, the Advanced Armour Officer's Course. He also attended a Gunnery course at the Royal Armoured Corps School,Bovington Camp,UK.

Khobe was 2nd-In-Command of 245 Recce Battalion Ikeja under then Capt.Martin Luther Agwai(who would later becomeChief of Army Staff) and was responsible for coordinating the training program of that battalion.

He attended theArmed Forces Command and Staff College, Jajiin 1983 and was promoted Major in 1984. In August 1985, he led a unit of Tanks in Lagos during the palace coup that removed Major GeneralMuhammadu Buharifrom power, ushering in fellow Armoured Corps officer, Major GeneralIbrahim Babangida.He was awarded the Forces Services Star in 1986 and became a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1989. He served four tours of duty in Liberia getting ECOMOG Liberia medals for each one. In addition he won the coveted Nigerian Army Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award and became a Colonel in 1994.

On 12 February 1998, he led the ECOMOG Ground Task Force assault that removed MajorJohnny Paul Koromafrom power and restored the elected government of PresidentAhmed Tejan Kabbah.He was promoted Brigadier General and later assumed the position ofChief of Defence Staff of Sierra Leone.

Dates of Promotion

Year	Insignia	Rank
1971		Second lieutenant(Commissioned)
1974		Lieutenant
1977		Captain
1984		Major
1989		Lieutenant colonel
1994		Colonel
1998		Brigadier general

Death

Khobe died ofencephalitison 18 April 2000 at the St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos one week after being evacuated back home from Sierra Leone.Following Khobe's death, the Rukuba CantonmentJoswas renamed Maxwell Khobe Cantonment.

External links

After the Battle | ECOMOG Versus Sierra Leonean Rebels, Brig. Maxwell Khobe Speaks, January 1999