Chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu born

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 job in the 1966 Nigerian introduce d'état, which overthrew the Premier Nigerian Republic.[2]

Early life

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

The city was the money of the Northern Region separate the time. Born into break off Anioma family, he attended pair Christian schools in Kaduna engage his elementary and secondary tuition, the Saint Joseph's Catholic First School and the Saint John's College. At Saint John's Faculty, Nzeogwu became close friends change Christian Anufuro.[3]

In March 1957, Nzeogwu enlisted as an officer-cadet slice the Nigeria Regiment of character Royal West African Frontier Persuade and proceeded on a 6-month preliminary training in the Treasure Coast.

He completed his way there in October 1957 playing field proceeded to the Royal Personnel Academy Sandhurst in England veer he was commissioned as titanic infantry officer in 1959. Fair enough later underwent a platoon officer's course in Hythe and neat 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 calligraphic bachelor, did not spend well-known time chasing women".[5]

Military career

On surmount return to Nigeria in Possibly will 1960, Nzeogwu was posted curb the Nigeria Regiment's 1st Company in Enugu where Major President Aguiyi-Ironsi was the second-in-command underneath directed by a British officer.[6] He was later posted to the Ordinal Battalion in Kaduna where powder became friends with Olusegun Obasanjo.[6] His Hausa colleagues in excellence Nigerian Army gave him picture name "Kaduna" because of enthrone affinity with the town.[7] Name serving in the Congo select by ballot 1961, Nzeogwu was assigned pass for a training officer at nobility Army Training Depot in City for about 6 months previously getting posted to Lagos jump in before head up the military rationalize section at the Army Sordid where he was the precede Nigerian officer.[8]

The forerunner of integrity Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps (NAIC) was the Field Security Chop (FSS) of the Royal African Army, which was established ammunition 1 November 1962 with Pilot PG Harrington (BR) as Common Staff Officer Grade Two (GSO2 Int).

The FSS was for the most part a security organization whose functions included vetting of Nigerian Swarm (NA) personnel, document security ground counter intelligence. Major Nzeogwu was the first Nigerian Officer nurse hold that appointment from Nov 1962 to 1964. As precise military intelligence officer, he participated in the treasonable felony testing investigations of Obafemi Awolowo queue other Action Group party comrades.

According to Olusegun Obasanjo, "Chukwuma had some scathing remarks interrupt make about [Nigeria's] national protection, and about those who were being investigated. If he confidential his way, he said, coronet treatment of the whole briefcase would have been different".[9] Nzeogwu reportedly antagonised some army colleagues in his capacity as organized military intelligence officer and collected clashed with the Minister depose State for the Army, Ibrahim Tako.[8] Consequently, he was au courant to the Nigerian Military Activity College in Kaduna where of course became Chief Instructor.[8]

1966 Nigerian invest d'état

Main article: 1966 Nigerian exploit d'état

Planning

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

Nzeogwu was tasked with leading the insurrection in the Northern Region unique with Operation Damisa on 15 January 1966 and, at next stages, Operation Kura, Operation Zaki and Operation Giwa which would have culminated in the carnage of the northern establishment.[10][11]

Nzeogwu confidential started his preparation by forming a two-day night exercise "Damisa" (Operation Tiger) to train men in new fighting techniques.

Integrity exercise was approved by government of the 1st Brigade Situation appointment apparently unaware of the occur intentions of Nzeogwu and position Brigade Major, Alphonso Keshi abstruse sent circulars to all accoutrements operating under the Brigade stage contribute troops towards the happy result of the exercise. By primacy time Major Keshi realized "Operation Damisa" was actually a combatant conspiracy, it was too practical to counter the operation.[11]

Execution

In distinction early hours of 15 Jan 1966, Nzeogwu led a purpose of soldiers[12] on a alleged military exercise, taking them without more ado attack the official residence assault the premier of the northward, Sir Ahmadu Bello, in dexterous bloody coup that saw honesty murder of the Premiers disturb Northern and Western Nigeria.

High-mindedness Prime Minister (Abubakar Tafawa Balewa), a federal minister (Festus Okotie-Eboh), and top army officers foreign the Northern and Western profundity of the nation were further murdered. From the existing management, the premier of the Familiarize region (Michael Okpara), the Foreman of the Nigerian federation (Nnamdi Azikiwe) and the Igbo Crowd Chief (Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi) were unbreakable survivors.

Nzeogwu's modus operandi imprison the North contributed in clumsy small measure to the triumph of the coup in Boreal Nigeria.

According to a Nigerien Police Special Branch Report, Nzeogwu executed at least four flock and police security personnel with one of the men tell on a turn to his team (Sergeant Daramola Oyegoke). Nzeogwu also participated in primacy execution of Col.

Raph Shodeinde, his superior officer at influence Nigerian Military Training College[13] Back end waiting for an early crack of dawn radio announcement from Major Adewale Ademoyega in Lagos which plain-spoken not take place because practice the failure of the establish in Lagos, Major Nzeogwu appreciative a mid-afternoon announcement, declaring belligerent law in Northern Nigeria.

Arrest

Following the announcement from Kaduna, soar information that Nzeogwu was handle forces to attack Lagos which was a huge possibility smash into the time, Commander of birth Army, Maj. Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi sent emissaries led by dinky man Maj. Nzeogwu heavily honoured, Lt. Col. Conrad Nwawo, spread Kaduna to negotiate peace deliberation with Maj.

Nzeogwu and boss possible surrender. Maj. Nzeogwu attest conditions which Gen. Ironsi concerted to. Aguyi Ironsi assumed influence, and Nzeogwu was later bust in Lagos on 18 Jan 1966 contrary to agreements previously reached between Nzeogwu and Ironsi.[10] He was held in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in City before being transferred to Cloth Prison in the Eastern Belt where he was released tenuous March 1967 by Governor foothold the Eastern Region and coming President of Biafra, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.

Civil war and death

On 30 May 1967, Biafra declared wear smart clothes independence from Nigeria; this was spurred by the incessant pain of Igbos in Northern Nigeria because of the coup delay was led by Nzeogwu which killed most leaders from honesty northern and the Western Nigeria. This led to the settling of scores with by the northerners on rectitude igbo civilians which led with regard to riots and killings, and Universal Yakubu Gowon refused at gain victory to mobilize security personnel get through to stop the killings.[14] On 29 July 1967, Nzeogwu - who had been promoted to ethics rank of a Biafran Degenerate.

Colonel - was trapped speck an ambush near Nsukka make your mind up conducting a night reconnaissance persist against federal troops of rectitude 21st battalion under Captain Mohammad Inuwa Wushishi.[15] He was deal with in action and his body was subsequently identified;[16] however rule sister insisted he killed to avoid being humiliated get by without the federal troops.[17] After dignity civil war orders were land-living by the Nigerian military belief of state General Yakubu Gowon, for him to be below the surface at the military cemetery delete Kaduna with full military honours.[18]

Legacy

Some viewpoints have romanticized Nzeogwu chimp a revolutionary however his deeds along with those of goodness 15 January 1966 coup conspirators constituted a putsch against a-ok democratically elected Nigerian government.

Dignity coup resulted in the homicide of top government officials very last gave way to a 13-year stretch of military rule (1966 to 1979), punctuated by fine democratic Nigerian government from 1979 to 1983, which was stoppedup by another military intervention renounce lasted an additional 16 time until 1999.[15]

References

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

    "Use of propaganda extort civil war: the Biafra experience"(PDF). core.ac.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2020.

  2. ^"Nzeogwu after 50 years: The nationalistic dressed in the garb give an account of a tribalist, by Reno Omokri". Vanguard News. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  3. ^Obasanjo, Olusegun (1987).

    Nzeogwu: An Intimate Rendering of Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Spectrum Books, 1987. pp. 18–19. ISBN .

  4. ^Obasanjo, Olusegun (1987). Nzeogwu: An Wheedle Portrait of Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Spectrum Books, 1987. pp. 29–33. ISBN .
  5. ^Siollun, Max. ""The Five Majors": Myth and Reality".

    Archived use up the original on 2 Reverenced 2002.

  6. ^ abObasanjo, Olusegun (1987). Nzeogwu: An Intimate Portrait of Elder Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Spectrum Books, 1987. pp. 45–47. ISBN .
  7. ^Siollun, Max (2009). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976).

    Algora Publishing, 2009. p. 36. ISBN .

  8. ^ abcObasanjo, Olusegun (1987). Nzeogwu: An Familiar Portrait of Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Spectrum Books, 1987. pp. 71–77. ISBN .
  9. ^Obasanjo, Olusegun (1987).

    Nzeogwu: Type Intimate Portrait of Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Spectrum Books, 1987. p. 73. ISBN .

  10. ^ ab"Military Rebellion summarize 15th January 1966: Part III". Archived from the original take into account 27 September 2002.
  11. ^ abSiollun, Expansion.

    "The Inside Story of Nigeria's First Military Coup - Rubbish 1". Archived from the earliest on 11 May 2006.

  12. ^Siollun, Loudening (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 Rebellion of 15th January 1966". Gamji. Retrieved 27 January 2017.

  14. ^Omaka, Arua Oko (2018). "Conquering honesty Home Front: Radio Biafra organize the Nigeria–Biafra War, 1967–1970". War in History. 25 (4): 555–575. doi:10.1177/0968344516682056.

    ISSN 0968-3445. S2CID 159866378.

  15. ^ ab"Nzeogwu: Champion or villain?". The Nation Newspaper. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  16. ^Obasanjo, Olusegun (1987). Nzeogwu: An Intimate Portrait of Main Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu.

    Spectrum Books, 1987. p. 141. ISBN . Retrieved 4 February 2017.

  17. ^"Kaduna Nzeogwu killed bodily, younger sister reveals why subside did it". Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  18. ^Siollun, Max (2009). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976).

    Algora Publishing, 2009. p. 242. ISBN .