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Babangida: Nigeria's Former Military Ruler Strongly Defends Igbos, Details Emerge
Feb 23, 2025
On January 15, 1966, Nigeria witnessed her first coup when a group of young soldiers attacked democratic leaders
The rebellion was later tagged an "Igbo coup" by other ethnic groups in the country due to the killing pattern
In his recently-launched revealing memoir, 'A Journey in Service', seen by Legit.ng, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) refuted claims of ethnic agenda in the 1966 coup
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics and governance in Nigeria.
FCT, Abuja - Former military president Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has said Igbo people were not behind the bloody 1966 coup in Nigeria.
Legit.ng recalls that in the early hours of January 15, 1966, rebellious soldiers led Kaduna Nzeogwu—from Delta state—led a group of soldiers to kill 22 people, including the prime minister of Nigeria at the time, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; many senior politicians, senior army officers, their wives and guards.
In ‘A Journey in Service: An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida’, the former Nigerian leader clarified that contrary to the narratives linking the coup to ethnic sentiments, the original intention of the coup plotters was to release Obafemi Awolowo from detention and install him as the president.
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