1966 Coup Not an Igbo Coup, Kaduna Nzeogwu Was More Hausa – IBB in New Book

Former Nigerian Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), has refuted claims that the 1966 military coup was an “Igbo coup.” In his newly released book, *A Journey in Service*, Babangida argued that the leader of the coup, Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, was more aligned with the Hausa community than the Igbo.

Babangida highlighted that although Nzeogwu bore an Igbo name, he was raised in Kaduna and spoke Hausa fluently. He suggested that Nzeogwu and his fellow plotters might have been motivated by a desire to improve the country, but their actions took on an ethnic dimension, especially after the assassination of prominent northern leaders such as Sir Ahmadu Bello and his wife, Hafsatu.

The former military ruler described the murder of Ahmadu Bello as “heinously callous,” emphasizing that the Sardauna of Sokoto and his wife were beloved figures who did not resist the coup plotters. He noted that the initial objectives of the coup were compromised when “outsiders” infiltrated the plot, leading to the perception of an ethnically motivated agenda. The absence of related coup activities in the Eastern Region further fueled this narrative.

Babangida also pointed out that Igbo officers were among the victims of the coup. He referenced Lt-Col. Arthur Chinyelu Unegbe, his former commander in Kaduna, who was killed by Major Chris Anuforo despite being of the same ethnic background. Unegbe, the Quartermaster-General of the Army, was targeted because he was seen as a potential obstacle to the coup due to his control over military supplies.

In an effort to challenge the ethnic characterization of the coup, Babangida noted that non-Igbo officers such as Major Adewale Ademoyega, Captain Ganiyu Adeleke, and Lts. Pola Oyewole and Olafimihan played key roles in the failed coup. He also acknowledged that an Igbo officer, Major John Obienu, was instrumental in crushing the coup.

The book further explores claims that the coup plotters intended to install Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Nigeria’s executive provisional president, despite Awolowo not being a known supporter of the Igbo. Babangida suggested that this aspect of the coup could indicate a non-ethnic motive, though he admitted that his perspective might be influenced by his experiences as a young officer witnessing events from a distance.