Former Nigerian Head of State General Yakubu Gowon has reportedly passed on at the age of 89.

Yakubu Gowon was the head of state of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975, during which time he presided over the Nigerian Civil War.

Gowon is from Lur, a small village in the present Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State.

He was born in October 1934. He joined the Nigerian Army in 1954 and was trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England. He rose to the rank of general in 1966.

Gowon was chosen to become the head of state of Nigeria in 1966. He led the country during the Nigerian Civil War, which lasted from 1967 to 1970.

After the war, Gowon promised to return Nigeria to civilian rule. However, he was overthrown in a bloodless coup in 1975.

Gowon went into exile in England after being overthrown. He later returned to Nigeria.