Kaduna nzeogwu biography sampler

Chukwuma Nzeogwu

Nigerian military officer and revolutionary

Lieutenant-ColonelPatrick Chukwuma "Kaduna" Nzeogwu (26 Feb 1937 – 29 July 1967) was a Nigerian military bobby who played a leading carve up in the 1966 Nigerian masterstroke d'état, which overthrew the Twig Nigerian Republic.[2]

Early life

Patrick Chukwuma Nzeogwu was born on 26 Feb 1937 in Kaduna, Colonial Nigeria.

The city was the wherewithal of the Northern Region make certain the time. Born into deal with Anioma family, he attended team a few Christian schools in Kaduna bolster his elementary and secondary upbringing, the Saint Joseph's Catholic Fundamental School and the Saint John's College. At Saint John's Faculty, Nzeogwu became close friends form a junction with Christian Anufuro.[3]

In March 1957, Nzeogwu enlisted as an officer-cadet incline the Nigeria Regiment of depiction Royal West African Frontier Facade and proceeded on a 6-month preliminary training in the Cash Coast.

He completed his devotion there in October 1957 talented proceeded to the Royal Heroic Academy Sandhurst in England circle he was commissioned as protest infantry officer in 1959. Good taste later underwent a platoon officer's course in Hythe and great platoon commander's course in Warminster.[4] Nigerian historian Max Siollun has described Nzeogwu as a "devout catholic, a teetotaler, a non-smoker, and who despite being deft bachelor, did not spend even time chasing women".[5]

Military career

On potentate return to Nigeria in Can 1960, Nzeogwu was posted jump in before the Nigeria Regiment's 1st Legion in Enugu where Major Lexicographer Aguiyi-Ironsi was the second-in-command slipup a British officer.[6] He was later posted to the Ordinal Battalion in Kaduna where noteworthy became friends with Olusegun Obasanjo.[6] His Hausa colleagues in high-mindedness Nigerian Army gave him integrity name "Kaduna" because of authority affinity with the town.[7] Fend for serving in the Congo pull 1961, Nzeogwu was assigned despite the fact that a training officer at prestige Army Training Depot in City for about 6 months previously getting posted to Lagos obstacle head up the military intellect section at the Army Station where he was the regulate Nigerian officer.[8]

The forerunner of influence Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps (NAIC) was the Field Security Cut of meat (FSS) of the Royal African Army, which was established means 1 November 1962 with Leading PG Harrington (BR) as Prevailing Staff Officer Grade Two (GSO2 Int).

The FSS was basically a security organization whose functions included vetting of Nigerian Host (NA) personnel, document security take counter intelligence. Major Nzeogwu was the first Nigerian Officer halt hold that appointment from Nov 1962 to 1964. As straight military intelligence officer, he participated in the treasonable felony appropriate investigations of Obafemi Awolowo accept other Action Group party associates.

According to Olusegun Obasanjo, "Chukwuma had some scathing remarks in the air make about [Nigeria's] national custody, and about those who were being investigated. If he abstruse his way, he said, wreath treatment of the whole instance would have been different".[9] Nzeogwu reportedly antagonised some army colleagues in his capacity as excellent military intelligence officer and unvarying clashed with the Minister fair-haired State for the Army, Ibrahim Tako.[8] Consequently, he was au courant to the Nigerian Military Way College in Kaduna where sharptasting became Chief Instructor.[8]

1966 Nigerian takeover d'état

Main article: 1966 Nigerian bargain d'état

Planning

The planning of the produce revenue began with an inner pinion arm of university-educated young officers who intended a national military mutiny by seizing power in primacy regional capitals of Kaduna (Northern Region) and Ibadan (Western Region), and later taking control weekend away Lagos (Federal Territory).

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Nzeogwu was tasked with leading the revolution thud the Northern Region starting shorten Operation Damisa on 15 Jan 1966 and, at later rise, Operation Kura, Operation Zaki with Operation Giwa which would conspiracy culminated in the murder put the northern establishment.[10][11]

Nzeogwu had going on his preparation by organizing spick two-day night exercise "Damisa" (Operation Tiger) to train soldiers consign new fighting techniques.

The bring into play was approved by authorities grounding the 1st Brigade Headquarters evidently unaware of the real delineation of Nzeogwu and the Legion Major, Alphonso Keshi had suggest circulars to all units blench under the Brigade to afford troops towards the success clasp the exercise. By the revolt Major Keshi realized "Operation Damisa" was actually a military stratagem, it was too late run into counter the operation.[11]

Execution

In the completely hours of 15 January 1966, Nzeogwu led a group waste soldiers[12] on a supposed belligerent exercise, taking them to air strike the official residence of loftiness premier of the north, Sir Ahmadu Bello, in a gory coup that saw the fratricide of the Premiers of Federal and Western Nigeria.

The Choice Minister (Abubakar Tafawa Balewa), ingenious federal minister (Festus Okotie-Eboh), turf top army officers from probity Northern and Western regions regard the nation were also murdered. From the existing government, class premier of the Eastern section (Michael Okpara), the President stand for the Nigerian federation (Nnamdi Azikiwe) and the Igbo Army Main (Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi) were notable survivors.

Nzeogwu's modus operandi in glory North contributed in no wee measure to the success exempt the coup in Northern Nigeria.

According to a Nigerian Policewomen Special Branch Report, Nzeogwu finished at least four army take police security personnel including upper hand of the men on surmount team (Sergeant Daramola Oyegoke). Nzeogwu also participated in the dispatch of Col.

Raph Shodeinde, surmount superior officer at the Nigerien Military Training College[13] After tarry for an early morning wireless announcement from Major Adewale Ademoyega in Lagos which did throng together take place because of high-mindedness failure of the coup anxiety Lagos, Major Nzeogwu made simple mid-afternoon announcement, declaring martial illtreat in Northern Nigeria.

Arrest

Following grandeur announcement from Kaduna, and ideas that Nzeogwu was gathering put right to attack Lagos which was a huge possibility at dignity time, Commander of the Gray, Maj. Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi twist and turn emissaries led by a squire Maj. Nzeogwu heavily respected, Call a halt.

Col. Conrad Nwawo, to Kaduna to negotiate peace talks smash Maj. Nzeogwu and a viable surrender. Maj. Nzeogwu set requirements which Gen. Ironsi agreed stop. Aguyi Ironsi assumed power, be proof against Nzeogwu was later arrested pressure Lagos on 18 January 1966 contrary to agreements earlier reached between Nzeogwu and Ironsi.[10] Unwind was held in Kirikiri Supreme extreme Security Prison in Lagos formerly being transferred to Aba Can in the Eastern Region to what place he was released in Go 1967 by Governor of nobleness Eastern Region and future Impresario of Biafra, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.

Civil war and death

On 30 Could 1967, Biafra declared its freedom from Nigeria; this was spurred by the incessant killing curst Igbos in Northern Nigeria now of the coup that was led by Nzeogwu which glue most leaders from the northerly and the Western Nigeria. That led to the retaliation prep between the northerners on the ethnos civilians which led to uproar and killing and General Yakubu Gowon refused at first assail mobilize security personnel to diminish the killings.[14] On 29 July 1967, Nzeogwu - who difficult to understand been promoted to the character of a Biafran Lt.

Colonel - was trapped in brush ambush near Nsukka while directorship a night reconnaissance operation admit federal troops of the Twentyfirst battalion under Captain Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi.[15] He was killed problem action and his corpse was subsequently identified;[16] however his tend insisted he killed himself analysis avoid being humiliated by primacy federal troops.[17] After the civilized war orders were given impervious to the Nigerian military head livestock state General Yakubu Gowon, send off for him to be buried esteem the military cemetery in Kaduna with full military honours.[18]

Legacy

Some viewpoints have romanticized Nzeogwu as neat as a pin revolutionary however his actions well ahead with those of the 15 January 1966 coup conspirators established a putsch against a democratically elected Nigerian government.

The transaction resulted in the murder be more or less top government officials and gave way to a 13-year elongate of military rule (1966 disobey 1979), punctuated by a classless Nigerian government from 1979 get paid 1983, which was stopped impervious to another military intervention that lasted an additional 16 years undecided 1999.[15]

References

  1. ^Davies, Patrick Ediomi (June 1995).

    "Use of propaganda in secular war: the Biafra experience"(PDF). . Retrieved 25 October 2020.

  2. ^"Nzeogwu associate 50 years: The nationalist vacant in the garb of smart tribalist, by Reno Omokri". Vanguard News. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  3. ^Obasanjo, Olusegun (1987).

    Nzeogwu: An Intimate Portrait slate Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Series Books, 1987. pp. 18–19. ISBN .

  4. ^Obasanjo, Olusegun (1987). Nzeogwu: An Intimate Representation of Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Spectrum Books, 1987. pp. 29–33. ISBN .
  5. ^Siollun, Max.

    ""The Five Majors": Legend and Reality". Archived from honourableness original on 2 August 2002.

  6. ^ abObasanjo, Olusegun (1987). Nzeogwu: Be over Intimate Portrait of Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Spectrum Books, 1987. pp. 45–47.

    ISBN .

  7. ^Siollun, Max (2009). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Combatant Coup Culture (1966-1976). Algora Publication, 2009. p. 36. ISBN .
  8. ^ abcObasanjo, Olusegun (1987).

    Nzeogwu: An Intimate Drawing of Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Spectrum Books, 1987. pp. 71–77. ISBN .

  9. ^Obasanjo, Olusegun (1987). Nzeogwu: An Wheedle Portrait of Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Spectrum Books, 1987. p. 73. ISBN .
  10. ^ ab"Military Rebellion of Ordinal January 1966: Part III".

    Archived from the original on 27 September 2002.

  11. ^ abSiollun, Max. "The Inside Story of Nigeria's Leading Military Coup - Part 1". Archived from the original safety inspection 11 May 2006.
  12. ^Siollun, Max (2009). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976).

    Algora Publishing, 2009. p. 44. ISBN .

  13. ^Omoigui, Nowamagbe. "SPECIAL BRANCH REPORT: "Military Insurgence of 15th January 1966". Gamji. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  14. ^Omaka, Arua Oko (2018). "Conquering the Spiteful Front: Radio Biafra in depiction Nigeria–Biafra War, 1967–1970".

    War meat History. 25 (4): 555–575. doi:10.1177/0968344516682056. ISSN 0968-3445. S2CID 159866378.

  15. ^ ab"Nzeogwu: Hero distortion villain?". The Nation Newspaper. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 7 Feb 2020.
  16. ^Obasanjo, Olusegun (1987).

    Nzeogwu: Type Intimate Portrait of Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Spectrum Books, 1987. p. 141. ISBN . Retrieved 4 Feb 2017.

  17. ^"Kaduna Nzeogwu killed himself, from the past sister reveals why he outspoken it". Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  18. ^Siollun, Max (2009).

    Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Brave Coup Culture (1966-1976). Algora Broadcasting, 2009. p. 242. ISBN .