Gen Idris Alkali went missing while travelling alone from the capital, Abuja, to his hometown in Bauchi state.

His car was found a month ago in an abandoned mining pit on the outskirts of the central city of Jos.

Last week the army discovered a shallow grave where the body of the general had been buried before being moved.

BBCCopyright: BBC

A military spokesperson said that on Wednesday, one of the people who moved the body led them to an abandoned well south of Jos, where they were able to recover the general’s remains.

Gen Alkali was the Nigerian army’s former chief of administration.

He had just retired after 35 years of service when he disappeared.

In previous statements, the army said it believed the general was killed by local youth, protesting a recent attack by gunmen in their community.