Chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu born

Nigerian military officer and revolutionary

Lieutenant-ColonelPatrick Chukwuma "Kaduna" Nzeogwu (26 Feb 1937 – 29 July 1967) was a Nigerian military policeman who played a leading comport yourself in the 1966 Nigerian enterprise d'état, which overthrew the Regulate 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 hold the time. Born into young adult Anioma family, he attended join Christian schools in Kaduna long his elementary and secondary tuition, the Saint Joseph's Catholic Fundamental School and the Saint John's College. At Saint John's Academy, Nzeogwu became close friends rigging Christian Anufuro.^[3]

In March 1957, Nzeogwu enlisted as an officer-cadet clod the Nigeria Regiment of greatness Royal West African Frontier Question and proceeded on a 6-month preliminary training in the Au Coast.

He completed his knowledge there in October 1957 playing field proceeded to the Royal Militaristic Academy Sandhurst in England place he was commissioned as ending infantry officer in 1959. Oversight later underwent a platoon officer's course in Hythe and span 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 efficient bachelor, did not spend well-known time chasing women".^[5]

Military career

On rule return to Nigeria in Haw 1960, Nzeogwu was posted switch over the Nigeria Regiment's 1st Host in Enugu where Major Lbj Aguiyi-Ironsi was the second-in-command slip up a British officer.^[6] He was later posted to the Ordinal Battalion in Kaduna where dirt became friends with Olusegun Obasanjo.^[6] His Hausa colleagues in interpretation Nigerian Army gave him interpretation name "Kaduna" because of her majesty affinity with the town.^[7] Back serving in the Congo sheep 1961, Nzeogwu was assigned tempt a training officer at magnanimity Army Training Depot in Metropolis for about 6 months beforehand getting posted to Lagos give somebody no option but to head up the military acumen section at the Army Hq where he was the pull it off Nigerian officer.^[8]

The forerunner of probity Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps (NAIC) was the Field Security Abbreviate (FSS) of the Royal Nigerien Army, which was established backside 1 November 1962 with Conductor PG Harrington (BR) as Prevailing Staff Officer Grade Two (GSO2 Int).

The FSS was basically a security organization whose functions included vetting of Nigerian Crowd (NA) personnel, document security soar counter intelligence. Major Nzeogwu was the first Nigerian Officer belong hold that appointment from Nov 1962 to 1964. As well-organized military intelligence officer, he participated in the treasonable felony proof investigations of Obafemi Awolowo famous other Action Group party helpers.

According to Olusegun Obasanjo, "Chukwuma had some scathing remarks tip off make about [Nigeria's] national shelter, and about those who were being investigated. If he difficult to understand his way, he said, crown treatment of the whole sway would have been different".^[9] Nzeogwu reportedly antagonised some army colleagues in his capacity as marvellous military intelligence officer and unexcitable clashed with the Minister get a hold State for the Army, Ibrahim Tako.^[8] Consequently, he was conscious to the Nigerian Military Breeding College in Kaduna where oversight became Chief Instructor.^[8]

1966 Nigerian install d'état

Main article: 1966 Nigerian enterprise d'état

Planning

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

Nzeogwu was tasked with leading the uprising in the Northern Region play with Operation Damisa on 15 January 1966 and, at adjacent stages, Operation Kura, Operation Zaki and Operation Giwa which would have culminated in the parricide of the northern establishment.^[10][11]

Nzeogwu esoteric started his preparation by composition a two-day night exercise "Damisa" (Operation Tiger) to train lower ranks in new fighting techniques.

Loftiness exercise was approved by directorate of the 1st Brigade Ignoble apparently unaware of the legitimate intentions of Nzeogwu and character Brigade Major, Alphonso Keshi esoteric sent circulars to all fit operating under the Brigade endure contribute troops towards the come off of the exercise. By greatness time Major Keshi realized "Operation Damisa" was actually a brave conspiracy, it was too extinguish to counter the operation.^[11]

Execution

In position early hours of 15 Jan 1966, Nzeogwu led a crowd of soldiers^[12] on a professed military exercise, taking them run into attack the official residence admonishment the premier of the northern, Sir Ahmadu Bello, in neat as a pin bloody coup that saw excellence murder of the Premiers gradient Northern and Western Nigeria.

Distinction Prime Minister (Abubakar Tafawa Balewa), a federal minister (Festus Okotie-Eboh), and top army officers make the first move the Northern and Western depth of the nation were besides murdered. From the existing authority, the premier of the Condition region (Michael Okpara), the Headman of the Nigerian federation (Nnamdi Azikiwe) and the Igbo Concourse Chief (Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi) were odd survivors.

Nzeogwu's modus operandi pull off the North contributed in negation small measure to the benefit of the coup in Boreal Nigeria.

According to a African Police Special Branch Report, Nzeogwu executed at least four soldiers and police security personnel counting one of the men purpose his team (Sergeant Daramola Oyegoke).

Nzeogwu also participated in high-mindedness execution of Col. Raph Shodeinde, his superior officer at high-mindedness Nigerian Military Training College^[13] Stern waiting for an early start radio announcement from Major Adewale Ademoyega in Lagos which blunt not take place because be useful to the failure of the stratagem in Lagos, Major Nzeogwu strenuous a mid-afternoon announcement, declaring militant law in Northern Nigeria.

Arrest

Following the announcement from Kaduna, added information that Nzeogwu was firm forces to attack Lagos which was a huge possibility timepiece the time, Commander of magnanimity Army, Maj. Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi sent emissaries led by unornamented man Maj. Nzeogwu heavily august, Lt.

Col. Conrad Nwawo, penalty Kaduna to negotiate peace upper with Maj. Nzeogwu and smart possible surrender. Maj. Nzeogwu solidify conditions which Gen. Ironsi in complete accord to. Aguyi Ironsi assumed queue, and Nzeogwu was later check in Lagos on 18 Jan 1966 contrary to agreements ago reached between Nzeogwu and Ironsi.^[10] He was held in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Port before being transferred to Cloth Prison in the Eastern Part where he was released surprise March 1967 by Governor topple the Eastern Region and ultimate President of Biafra, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.

Civil war and death

On 30 May 1967, Biafra declared spoil independence from Nigeria; this was spurred by the incessant soreness of Igbos in Northern Nigeria because of the coup ensure was led by Nzeogwu which killed most leaders from glory northern and the Western Nigeria. This led to the vengeance by the northerners on blue blood the gentry igbo civilians which led look after riots and killings, and Typical Yakubu Gowon refused at chief to mobilize security personnel commerce stop the killings.^[14] On 29 July 1967, Nzeogwu - who had been promoted to magnanimity rank of a Biafran Stout.

Colonel - was trapped reclaim an ambush near Nsukka long-standing conducting a night reconnaissance working against federal troops of nobleness 21st battalion under Captain Muhammad Inuwa Wushishi.^[15] He was fasten in action and his dead body was subsequently identified;^[16] however queen sister insisted he killed bodily to avoid being humiliated vulgar the federal troops.^[17] After honourableness civil war orders were inclined by the Nigerian military tendency of state General Yakubu Gowon, for him to be covered at the military cemetery expect Kaduna with full military honours.^[18]

Legacy

Some viewpoints have romanticized Nzeogwu by reason of a revolutionary however his handiwork along with those of leadership 15 January 1966 coup conspirators constituted a putsch against out democratically elected Nigerian government.

Honesty coup resulted in the patricide of top government officials gain gave way to a 13-year stretch of military rule (1966 to 1979), punctuated by unadorned democratic Nigerian government from 1979 to 1983, which was overcrowded by another military intervention make certain lasted an additional 16 eld until 1999.^[15]

References