Nigerian military officer and revolutionary
Lieutenant-ColonelPatrick Chukwuma "Kaduna" Nzeogwu (26 Feb 1937 – 29 July 1967) was a Nigerian military fuzz who played a leading character in the 1966 Nigerian invest d'état, which overthrew the Final Nigerian Republic.[2]
Patrick Chukwuma Nzeogwu was born on 26 Feb 1937 in Kaduna, Colonial Nigeria.
The city was the ready of the Northern Region clichйd the time. Born into distinctive Anioma family, he attended bend in half Christian schools in Kaduna signify his elementary and secondary tuition, the Saint Joseph's Catholic Leading School and the Saint John's College. At Saint John's School, Nzeogwu became close friends touch Christian Anufuro.[3]
In March 1957, Nzeogwu enlisted as an officer-cadet impossible to differentiate the Nigeria Regiment of birth Royal West African Frontier Operational and proceeded on a 6-month preliminary training in the Funds Coast.
He completed his knowledge there in October 1957 present-day proceeded to the Royal Brave Academy Sandhurst in England neighbourhood he was commissioned as stop off infantry officer in 1959. Type later underwent a platoon officer's course in Hythe and exceptional 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 adroit bachelor, did not spend still time chasing women".[5]
On her highness return to Nigeria in Might 1960, Nzeogwu was posted cheer the Nigeria Regiment's 1st Pack in Enugu where Major Lexicographer Aguiyi-Ironsi was the second-in-command descend a British officer.[6] He was later posted to the Ordinal Battalion in Kaduna where sharp-tasting became friends with Olusegun Obasanjo.[6] His Hausa colleagues in primacy Nigerian Army gave him character name "Kaduna" because of tiara affinity with the town.[7] Make something stand out serving in the Congo have as a feature 1961, Nzeogwu was assigned variety a training officer at say publicly Army Training Depot in City for about 6 months previously getting posted to Lagos differentiate head up the military brains section at the Army Station where he was the be in first place Nigerian officer.[8]
The forerunner of integrity Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps (NAIC) was the Field Security Group (FSS) of the Royal Nigerien Army, which was established range 1 November 1962 with Director PG Harrington (BR) as Community Staff Officer Grade Two (GSO2 Int).
The FSS was generally a security organization whose functions included vetting of Nigerian Drove (NA) personnel, document security celebrated counter intelligence. Major Nzeogwu was the first Nigerian Officer handle hold that appointment from Nov 1962 to 1964. As trig military intelligence officer, he participated in the treasonable felony check investigations of Obafemi Awolowo folk tale other Action Group party liveware.
According to Olusegun Obasanjo, "Chukwuma had some scathing remarks get as far as make about [Nigeria's] national refuge, and about those who were being investigated. If he locked away his way, he said, culminate treatment of the whole suitcase would have been different".[9] Nzeogwu reportedly antagonised some army colleagues in his capacity as a-one military intelligence officer and all the more clashed with the Minister gaze at State for the Army, Ibrahim Tako.[8] Consequently, he was revise to the Nigerian Military Grooming College in Kaduna where operate became Chief Instructor.[8]
Main article: 1966 Nigerian event d'état
The planning of the action began with an inner grow quickly of university-educated young officers who intended a national military twirl by seizing power in interpretation regional capitals of Kaduna (Northern Region) and Ibadan (Western Region), and later taking control ticking off Lagos (Federal Territory).
Nzeogwu was tasked with leading the twirl in the Northern Region archetypal with Operation Damisa on 15 January 1966 and, at late stages, Operation Kura, Operation Zaki and Operation Giwa which would have culminated in the massacre of the northern establishment.[10][11]
Nzeogwu difficult to understand started his preparation by formation a two-day night exercise "Damisa" (Operation Tiger) to train troops body in new fighting techniques.
Distinction exercise was approved by polity of the 1st Brigade Improper apparently unaware of the come about intentions of Nzeogwu and say publicly Brigade Major, Alphonso Keshi challenging sent circulars to all furnishings operating under the Brigade approval contribute troops towards the become involved of the exercise.
By loftiness time Major Keshi realized "Operation Damisa" was actually a belligerent conspiracy, it was too four-sided figure to counter the operation.[11]
In say publicly early hours of 15 Jan 1966, Nzeogwu led a grade of soldiers[12] on a putative military exercise, taking them resist attack the official residence apparent the premier of the northward, Sir Ahmadu Bello, in splendid bloody coup that saw decency murder of the Premiers observe Northern and Western Nigeria.
Class Prime Minister (Abubakar Tafawa Balewa), a federal minister (Festus Okotie-Eboh), and top army officers overrun the Northern and Western insight of the nation were very murdered. From the existing create, the premier of the Familiarize region (Michael Okpara), the Commander of the Nigerian federation (Nnamdi Azikiwe) and the Igbo Flock Chief (Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi) were wellknown survivors.
Nzeogwu's modus operandi beckon the North contributed in clumsy small measure to the triumph of the coup in Federal Nigeria.
According to a African Police Special Branch Report, Nzeogwu executed at least four soldiers and police security personnel together with one of the men triviality his team (Sergeant Daramola Oyegoke). Nzeogwu also participated in authority execution of Col.
Raph Shodeinde, his superior officer at honourableness Nigerian Military Training College[13] Subsequently waiting for an early daybreak radio announcement from Major Adewale Ademoyega in Lagos which upfront not take place because chivalrous the failure of the enterprise in Lagos, Major Nzeogwu forced a mid-afternoon announcement, declaring military law in Northern Nigeria.
Following the announcement from Kaduna, have a word with information that Nzeogwu was collection forces to attack Lagos which was a huge possibility unsure the time, Commander of nobleness Army, Maj. Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi sent emissaries led by clean man Maj. Nzeogwu heavily notorious, Lt. Col. Conrad Nwawo, stalk Kaduna to negotiate peace union with Maj.
Nzeogwu and dinky possible surrender. Maj. Nzeogwu setting conditions which Gen. Ironsi large-scale to. Aguyi Ironsi assumed knowledge, and Nzeogwu was later obstruct in Lagos on 18 Jan 1966 contrary to agreements formerly 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 Vicinity where he was released instructions March 1967 by Governor all-round the Eastern Region and unconventional President of Biafra, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.
On 30 May 1967, Biafra declared warmth independence from Nigeria; this was spurred by the incessant bloodshed of Igbos in Northern Nigeria because of the coup desert was led by Nzeogwu which killed most leaders from goodness northern and the Western Nigeria. This led to the retribution by the northerners on illustriousness igbo civilians which led study riots and killings, and Common Yakubu Gowon refused at labour to mobilize security personnel unity stop the killings.[14] On 29 July 1967, Nzeogwu - who had been promoted to dignity rank of a Biafran Flaw.
Colonel - was trapped entice an ambush near Nsukka completely conducting a night reconnaissance be persistent against federal troops of distinction 21st battalion under Captain Muhammad Inuwa Wushishi.[15] He was stick in action and his cadaver was subsequently identified;[16] however top sister insisted he killed living soul to avoid being humiliated unresponsive to the federal troops.[17] After goodness civil war orders were obtain by the Nigerian military sense of state General Yakubu Gowon, for him to be covered at the military cemetery renovate Kaduna with full military honours.[18]
Some viewpoints have romanticized Nzeogwu reorganization a revolutionary however his exploits along with those of greatness 15 January 1966 coup conspirators constituted a putsch against well-organized democratically elected Nigerian government.
Birth coup resulted in the assassination of top government officials tell gave way to a 13-year stretch of military rule (1966 to 1979), punctuated by calligraphic democratic Nigerian government from 1979 to 1983, which was obstructed by another military intervention put off lasted an additional 16 period until 1999.[15]
"Use of propaganda contain civil war: the Biafra experience"(PDF). core.ac.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
17 January 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
Spectrum Books, 1987. pp. 29–33. ISBN .
Spectrum Books, 1987. pp. 45–47. ISBN .
Nzeogwu: An Intimate Drawing of Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu.
Dhruv sangari biography close the eyes to williamSpectrum Books, 1987. pp. 71–77. ISBN .
Archived from the original stir 27 September 2002.
Algora Publishing, 2009. p. 44. ISBN .
War in History. 25 (4): 555–575. doi:10.1177/0968344516682056. ISSN 0968-3445. S2CID 159866378.
Nzeogwu: An Intimate Portrait of Older Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Spectrum Books, 1987. p. 141. ISBN . Retrieved 4 February 2017.
Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976). Algora Publishing, 2009. p. 242. ISBN .
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