Exactly 53 years ago today (January 15th, 1966 a mutinous Nigerian soldiers led by majors Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna killed 22 people including the prime minister of Nigeria Sir Tafawa Balewa, many senior politicians including the Finance minister Festus Okotie-Eboh, premiers of the Northern and western Regions (Sir Ahmadu Bello &Chief Samuel Akintola)many senior Army officers (including their wives) and the sentinels on protective duty.
The coup plotters attacked military and government formations in the cities of Kaduna, Ibadan and Lagos while also blocking the Niger &Benue River within a two day span of time before the coup plotters were subdued.
The General officer commanding, of the Nigerian Army, Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi then used the coup as a pretext to annex power, ending Nigeria's nascent democracy. The coup was one of the events that led to the Nigerian civil war.
Prelude:
In August 1965 a group of Army majors (Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Timothy Onwuatuegwu, Chris Anuforo, Don Okafor, Humphrey Chukwuka and Adewale Ademoyega)began plotting a coup d'etat against incumbent prime minister Abubakar Balewa. The coup was planned because according to the majors, the men at the helm of affairs were running Nigeria aground with their corrupt ways. Ministers under them were living flamboyant lifestyles and looting public funds at the expense of ordinary citizens while the 1964 general elections in the western Region was believed to have been massively rigged in favour of the newly formed pro NPC,NNDP.
The ceremonial president of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe left the country in late 1965,first to Europe then on a cruise to the Caribbean, under the law, the Senate president, Nwafor Orizu, became acting president during his absence and had all the powers of the ceremonial president.
Coup:
Late in the morning of 15 January, 1966,at a meeting with some local journalists in Kaduna seeking to find out what was going on, it was brought to major Nzeogwu's attention that the only information about the events then was being broadcast by the BBC. Nzeogwu was surprised because he had expected a radio broadcast of his fellow rebels from Lagos. He is said to have "gone wild "when he learnt that major Emmanuel Ifeajuna in Lagos had not made any plans whatsoever to neutralise Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi who was commander of the Army. Therefore, Nzeogwu hurriedly drafted a speech which was broadcast on Radio Kaduna sometime around 12a.m.and in which he declared martial law over the Northern provinces of Niger.
Nzeogwu was later lured to Lagos by one of his trusted military colleagues where he was arrested thus putting an end to the rebellion.
AFTERMATH:
Acting president Nwafor Orizu made a nation wide broadcast, after he had brief president Nnamdi Azikiwe on the about the decision of the cabinet, announcing the cabinet "Voluntary"decision to transfer power to the armed forces. Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi then made his own broadcast, accepting the "invitation ".On 17 January Major General Ironsi established the Supreme military council in Lagos and suspended the constitution thus annexing power and ending Nigeria's nascent democracy.
The unnecessary bloodletting and the seemingly sectional nature of the killings led to restiveness believed to be the reason for the extremely bloody counter coup of July same year as well as the main catalyst that led to the civil war in which 2million lives were lost.
Comprehensive list of casualties from the coup are below:
Civilians:
Prime minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
Premier Ahmadu Bello.
Premier Samuel Ladoke Akintola.
Finance minister Festus Okotie-Eboh.
Ahmed Ben Musa (senior assistant secretary for security)
Hafsat Bello.
Mrs Latifat Ademulegun. Zarumi Sarduana.
Military and Police:
Brig.Samuel Ademulegun.
Brig. Zakariya Maimalari.
Col.Ralph Shodeinde.
Lt col.Abogo Largema.
Lt col. James Pam.
Lt col. Arthur Unegbe.
Sergeant Daramola Oyegoke (assisted Nzeogwu in the attack on the Sarduana's lodge &according to police report was murdered by Nzeogwu).
PC.Yohana Garkawa.
Lance corporal. Musa Nimzo.
PC.Akpan Anduka.
PC.Hagai Lai.
Philip Lewande.
The list below shows the officers involved in the mutiny are:
Maj.Kaduna Nzeogwu.
Maj. Adewale Ademoyega,author of "why we struck ".
Maj.Emmanuel Ifeajuna.
Maj.Timothy Onwuatuegwu.
Maj.Chris Anuforo.
Maj.Humphrey Chukwuka.
Maj.Don Okafor.
Capt Ogbo Oji.
Participants:
Capt G Adeleke.
Capt Emmanuel Nwobosi.
Lt Fola Oyewole, author of "The reluctant rebel ".
Lt R Egbiko.
Lt P M Okocha.
Credit:Wikipedia, 19 years of military Rule.
