History of Paul. Paul Chabri Tarfa is a retired Nigerian army major general

History of Paul. Paul Chabri Tarfa is a retired Nigerian army major general who had a significant military and administrative career, including his role in frustrating the January 1966 coup and serving as Governor of Oyo State. He was commissioned in 1963, held various command and staff positions, was the provost marshal general under the Murtala Mohammed regime, and later became the commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy. Tarfa retired in 1988 and has since been involved in business and public service, including chairing the North East Development Commission.
Military career
Early career: Commissioned as a second lieutenant in October 1963 and served in the First Battalion, which was part of a UN peacekeeping mission in the Congo.
1966 coup: His actions at the Federal Guards helped frustrate the January 1966 coup attempt.
Nigerian Civil War: Served as a Battalion and Brigade commander.
Staff and command roles: Held positions such as Assistant Adjutant General and Provost Marshal.
Provost Marshal General: In the mid-1970s, under General Murtala Mohammed, he was tasked with a clean-up campaign in the army and reducing traffic congestion in Lagos.
Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy: Served as the Commandant of the NDA before his retirement.
Civil and administrative roles
Governor of Oyo State: Served as the Military Administrator of Oyo State from 1978 to 1979, handing over to the civilian governor Bola Ige.
Director, Army Faculty: Was the director at the Command and Staff College in Jaji.
Panel Chair: Chaired a panel to investigate the activities of the Nigeria Customs Service in 1993.
Chairman of the North East Development Commission: Was appointed the Executive Chairman of the commission.
Other activities
Author: Wrote the autobiography A Profile in Courage, which details his life as a soldier, administrator, and poultry farmer.
Retirement: Retired as a major general in 1988.
Post-retirement: Lives in Kaduna, where he runs a poultry and citrus farm.
Traditional title: Holds the traditional title of Yeriman Garkida.