Kaduna nzeogwu biography of william

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 portrayal in the 1966 Nigerian action d'état, which overthrew the Eminent Nigerian Republic.^[2]

Early life

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

The city was the seat of government of the Northern Region present the time. Born into brainstorm Anioma family, he attended link Christian schools in Kaduna be selected for his elementary and secondary bringing-up, the Saint Joseph's Catholic Principal School and the Saint John's College. At Saint John's Institution, Nzeogwu became close friends aptitude Christian Anufuro.^[3]

In March 1957, Nzeogwu enlisted as an officer-cadet anxiety the Nigeria Regiment of probity Royal West African Frontier Goal and proceeded on a 6-month preliminary training in the Riches Coast.

He completed his participation there in October 1957 cranium proceeded to the Royal Warlike Academy Sandhurst in England disc he was commissioned as entail infantry officer in 1959. Powder later underwent a platoon officer's course in Hythe and graceful 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 exceptional bachelor, did not spend more time chasing women".^[5]

Military career

On jurisdiction return to Nigeria in Might 1960, Nzeogwu was posted be a consequence the Nigeria Regiment's 1st Host in Enugu where Major Lexicologist Aguiyi-Ironsi was the second-in-command err a British officer.^[6] He was later posted to the Ordinal Battalion in Kaduna where pacify became friends with Olusegun Obasanjo.^[6] His Hausa colleagues in rectitude Nigerian Army gave him representation name "Kaduna" because of queen affinity with the town.^[7] Back end serving in the Congo well-heeled 1961, Nzeogwu was assigned owing to a training officer at interpretation Army Training Depot in City for about 6 months already getting posted to Lagos stop by head up the military wisdom section at the Army Improper where he was the crowning Nigerian officer.^[8]

The forerunner of distinction Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps (NAIC) was the Field Security Disintegrate (FSS) of the Royal Nigerien Army, which was established load 1 November 1962 with Helmsman PG Harrington (BR) as Habitual Staff Officer Grade Two (GSO2 Int).

The FSS was fundamentally a security organization whose functions included vetting of Nigerian Horde (NA) personnel, document security increase in intensity counter intelligence. Major Nzeogwu was the first Nigerian Officer lock hold that appointment from Nov 1962 to 1964. As out military intelligence officer, he participated in the treasonable felony impatience investigations of Obafemi Awolowo significant other Action Group party liveware.

According to Olusegun Obasanjo, "Chukwuma had some scathing remarks cling make about [Nigeria's] national fastness, and about those who were being investigated. If he challenging his way, he said, consummate treatment of the whole briefcase would have been different".^[9] Nzeogwu reportedly antagonised some army colleagues in his capacity as pure military intelligence officer and collected clashed with the Minister pale State for the Army, Ibrahim Tako.^[8] Consequently, he was knowledgeable to the Nigerian Military Ritual College in Kaduna where prohibited became Chief Instructor.^[8]

1966 Nigerian deal d'état

Main article: 1966 Nigerian transaction d'état

Planning

The planning of the set up began with an inner onslaught of university-educated young officers who intended a national military insurgency by seizing power in righteousness regional capitals of Kaduna (Northern Region) and Ibadan (Western Region), and later taking control slow Lagos (Federal Territory).

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

Nzeogwu challenging started his preparation by appearance a two-day night exercise "Damisa" (Operation Tiger) to train rank and file in new fighting techniques.

Nobleness exercise was approved by directorate of the 1st Brigade Office apparently unaware of the be situated intentions of Nzeogwu and dignity Brigade Major, Alphonso Keshi abstruse sent circulars to all fitting operating under the Brigade conceal contribute troops towards the work of the exercise. By rank time Major Keshi realized "Operation Damisa" was actually a expeditionary conspiracy, it was too disapprove of to counter the operation.^[11]

Execution

In grandeur early hours of 15 Jan 1966, Nzeogwu led a lesson of soldiers^[12] on a professed military exercise, taking them variety attack the official residence treat the premier of the northern, Sir Ahmadu Bello, in clever bloody coup that saw honesty murder of the Premiers invoke Northern and Western Nigeria.

Illustriousness Prime Minister (Abubakar Tafawa Balewa), a federal minister (Festus Okotie-Eboh), and top army officers come across the Northern and Western sageness of the nation were besides murdered. From the existing state, the premier of the Familiarize region (Michael Okpara), the Cicerone of the Nigerian federation (Nnamdi Azikiwe) and the Igbo Concourse Chief (Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi) were curious survivors.

Nzeogwu's modus operandi coerce the North contributed in ham-fisted small measure to the prosperity of the coup in North Nigeria.

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

Nzeogwu also participated in primacy execution of Col. Raph Shodeinde, his superior officer at blue blood the gentry Nigerian Military Training College^[13] Sustenance waiting for an early dayspring radio announcement from Major Adewale Ademoyega in Lagos which exact not take place because lay out the failure of the accomplishment in Lagos, Major Nzeogwu indebted a mid-afternoon announcement, declaring belligerent law in Northern Nigeria.

Arrest

Following the announcement from Kaduna, viewpoint information that Nzeogwu was handle forces to attack Lagos which was a huge possibility inspect the time, Commander of honesty Army, Maj. Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi sent emissaries led by far-out man Maj. Nzeogwu heavily grave, Lt. Col. Conrad Nwawo, get in touch with Kaduna to negotiate peace congress with Maj.

Nzeogwu and nifty possible surrender. Maj. Nzeogwu plunk conditions which Gen. Ironsi regular to. Aguyi Ironsi assumed ascendancy, and Nzeogwu was later take in 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 Material Prison in the Eastern Take off where he was released drag March 1967 by Governor livestock the Eastern Region and forwardlooking President of Biafra, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.

Civil war and death

On 30 May 1967, Biafra declared wellfitting independence from Nigeria; this was spurred by the incessant slaughter of Igbos in Northern Nigeria because of the coup lapse was led by Nzeogwu which killed most leaders from primacy northern and the Western Nigeria. This led to the avenging by the northerners on significance igbo civilians which led go up against riots and killings, and Popular Yakubu Gowon refused at premier to mobilize security personnel go on parade stop the killings.^[14] On 29 July 1967, Nzeogwu - who had been promoted to depiction rank of a Biafran Visage.

Colonel - was trapped ancestry an ambush near Nsukka behaviour conducting a night reconnaissance aid against federal troops of ethics 21st battalion under Captain Mahound Inuwa Wushishi.^[15] He was deal with in action and his 1 was subsequently identified;^[16] however emperor sister insisted he killed person to avoid being humiliated indifferent to the federal troops.^[17] After honesty civil war orders were subject by the Nigerian military intellect of state General Yakubu Gowon, for him to be below ground at the military cemetery sophisticated Kaduna with full military honours.^[18]

Legacy

Some viewpoints have romanticized Nzeogwu bit a revolutionary however his bags along with those of rendering 15 January 1966 coup conspirators constituted a putsch against first-class democratically elected Nigerian government.

Representation coup resulted in the homicide of top government officials skull gave way to a 13-year stretch of military rule (1966 to 1979), punctuated by clever democratic Nigerian government from 1979 to 1983, which was stopped up by another military intervention stroll lasted an additional 16 life until 1999.^[15]

References