Correspondent
KOHIMA, OCT 30 (NPN): Veteran Naga national leader and president of the Naga National Council (NNC), ‘gen.’ (Retd.) Thinoselie M. Keyho, passed away at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima on the morning of October 30, 2026, following several days of hospitalisation.
The funeral service will be held on October 31 at 12 noon at Ruvetsiezou, Chedema.
Born on May 11, 1930, at Chedema Village, Kohima, Nagaland, he was the youngest of the five sons of Manyio Medom. His eldest brother was Lhoukuolie Medom, while another brother, Biseto Medom, was a former kilo kilonser of the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN).
Keyho joined the FGN on June 11, 1956, as secretary to the Director of Intelligence, Naga Army, FGN. His decision to join the national movement came after witnessing the public display of two brutally killed Nagas, whose stomachs had been cut open, accompanied by insulting and abusive words by the Indian Armed Forces at Kohima Market, in an attempt to terrorise the public.
In 1957, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier in the Naga Army, FGN. In 1963, he was part of a Naga Army contingent led by ‘gen.’ Mowu to East Pakistan, where he served as Command Writer.
On October 24, 1966, he led the first Naga contingent of 132 Naga Army soldiers as its Military Commander. Accompanied by civilian leaders, including Th. Muivah, then General Secretary of the NNC and Political Leader of the contingent, the group reached the frontiers of China on January 27, 1967. In 1968, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Naga Army, FGN. In the same year, he, along with ‘brig.’ Neidilie Kuotsu, led a group of Naga Army soldiers to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for further training.
On their return to Nagaland, the group decided to travel to Dhaka for diplomatic reasons. However, the Indo-Pak war broke out in 1971 while they were there. Following the surrender of East Pakistan, Keyho was handed over to the Indian Army by the Red Cross.
He and his team were subsequently taken to Delhi and incarcerated at Tihar Jail before being transferred to Shillong Jail. He was released in 1976.
Recognising his patriotism and standing in the community, he was elected president of the Angami Public Organisation (APO) for a three-year term from 1980 to 1984.
In recognition of his integrity and commitment to the Naga national movement, Gen. Keyho was unanimously elected president of the Naga National Workers’ Conference (NNWC), serving from 1981 to 1990, with the objective of promoting unity among Naga political groups.
In keeping with this conviction, he again led a group of five Naga leaders to China in 2014. For his patriotism, commitment, statesmanship and integrity, Keyho was unanimously elected president of NNC, on May 11, 2016. His election took place at the NNC general meeting held at Yorüba in Phek district, following a consensus nomination by the NNC Central Executive Council.
He continued to lead the organisation towards its political goal with courage, dedication, wisdom and determination, serving as NNC president until October 29, 2026.