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David Akpode Ejoor
David Akpode Ejoor RCDS, PSC, (10 January 1932 – 10 February 2019) was a Nigerian military officer who served as Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Career Early in Ejoor's career, he commanded the guard at the flag-raising ceremony at midnight on Nigerian Independence Day. Ejoor later claimed that then-Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu had approached him and future military Head of State Yakubu Gowon to discuss a coup plot amid the 1964 election crisis. On the week before the January 1966 coup d'état, Ejoor — who had recently succeeded Adekunle Fajuyi as commander of the Enugu-based 1st Battalion — was in Lagos attending a brigade conference along with many other senior officers. On the night of 14 January, many of these officers (including Ejoor and several coup plotters) went to a party celebrating Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari's marriage. Afterwards, Ejoor returned to his Ikoyi hotel, waking up the next morning to spent shell casings and bloodstains on the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nigerian Independence Day
Nigeria's Independence Day is a public holiday observed annually on 1 October to commemorate the country's declaration of independence from British rule in 1960. It marked the end of over sixty years of colonial governance and the emergence of Nigeria as a self-governing constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations. The inaugural celebrations featured a formal ceremony in Lagos, attended by Nigerian leaders and international dignitaries. Independence Day is observed nationwide through official ceremonies including military parades and flag-raising events, alongside traditional dances and cultural celebrations—a pattern mirrored by Nigerian communities abroad who mark the holiday by celebrating their heritage. Historical background Colonial era and path to independence British colonial involvement in Nigeria began with the annexation of Lagos in 1861. In 1914, the British created a centralized Nigeria by unifying the Northern and Southern protectorates wi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Obafemi Awolowo
Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo (6 March 1909 – 9 May 1987) was a Nigerian politician who served as the first Premier of the Western region of Nigeria. He was known as one of the key figure towards Nigeria's independence movement from 1957 to 1960. Awolowo founded the Yoruba nationalist group Egbe Omo Oduduwa as well as the Premier of the Western Region under Nigeria's parliamentary system from 1952 to 1959. He was the official opposition leader in the federal parliament to the Balewa government from 1959 to 1963. As a young man he was an active journalist, editing publications such as the Nigerian Worker and the African Sentinel, on top of others as well. He later became founder and publisher of ''Nigerian Tribune'' of African Newspapers of Nigeria Ltd. After receiving his bachelor of commerce degree in Nigeria, he traveled to London to pursue his degree in law. Obafemi Awolowo was the first premier of the Western Region and later federal commissioner for finance, an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yohanna Kure
Yohanna Yarima Kure (?? - November 2, 2023) was a Nigerian army officer. He was a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council (1985-1987) at the onset of Ibrahim Babangida's administration and was member of the Supreme Military Council of Nigeria (1983–1985) in Buhari's military government. Kure is a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82nd Division, Enugu and the 2nd Mechanized Division, Ibadan. Life Kure hails from Kurmin Musa in Kachia Local Government Area, southern, Kaduna State, Nigeria. He attended Provincial Secondary School (1957 - 1962) and finished studies with a West African School Certificate. In 1963, he joined Nigeria Military Training College and had further military training at Officer Cadet School, Portsea, Australia. In 1982, he attended a course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies where he wrote the paper, ''Logistics in Military Campaign: A case Study of the Nigerian Civil War''. Kure was appointed Lieutenant in 1966, Captain in 1969 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ikeja
Ikeja is the List of capitals of states of Nigeria, capital city of Lagos State in southwestern Nigeria. Its population, as of the 2006 census, is 313,196. Prior to the emergence of military rule in the early 1980s, Ikeja was a well planned, clean and quiet residential and commercial town with shopping malls, pharmacies and government reservation areas. It lies 17 km northwest of Lagos, Lagos city. The Murtala Muhammed International Airport is located in the city. Ikeja is also home to Femi Kuti's Africa Shrine and Lagbaja's Motherland, both venues for live music. Its Ikeja City Mall is the largest shopping mall on the Lagos State mainland. Ikeja also has its own radio station, broadcasting both in English (Eko FM) and in Yoruba (Radio Lagos). History Ikeja, which was formally called "Akeja", was named after a deity of the Awori tribe, Awori people of Ota. It was originally settled by the Awori people, and the area was raided for slaves until the mid-19th century. Early i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi (3 March 1924 – 29 July 1966) was a Nigerian general who was the first military head of state of Nigeria. He seized power during the ensuing chaos after the 15 January 1966 military coup. Ironsi ruled from 16 January, until his assassination on 29 July 1966 during the July counter-coup. He was assassinated by a group of military officers from the Northern Region led by Murtala Mohammed. Early life Ironsi was born on 3 March 1924 in Ibeku, Umuahia, British Nigeria. His father was Ezeugo Aguiyi. He took the last name of his brother-in-law as his first name in admiration of Mr. Johnson for the father-figure role that he played in his life. Aguiyi-Ironsi had his primary and secondary school education in Umuahia and Kano, respectively. At the age of 18, he joined the Nigeria Regiment against the wishes of his sister, Anyamma. Military career In 1942, Aguiyi-Ironsi joined the Nigerian Regiment, as a private with the seventh battalion ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Emmanuel Ifeajuna
Emmanuel Arinze Ifeajuna (1935 – 25 September 1967) was a Nigerian army major and high jumper. He was the first Black African to win a gold medal at an international sports event when he won at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. His winning mark and personal best of 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) was a game record and a British Empire record at the time. An Igbo from Onitsha, he was a science graduate of the University College of Ibadan and became involved in politics. He later joined the military and played a role in the 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. Life and career High jumping Born in Onitsha,Siollun, Max (2005-10-30)"The Inside Story Of Nigeria’s First Military Coup (I)" ''Nigeria Matters''. Retrieved on 2014-07-13. he attended Dennis Memorial Grammar School in his home town and displayed the characteristics that would later define his life. He trained in the high jump under his games teacher,Oliver, Brian (2014-07-13)"Emmanuel Ifeajuna: Commonwealt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ikoyi
Ikoyi is the most affluent neighborhood of Lagos, located in Eti-Osa Local Government Area. It lies to the northeast of Obalende and adjoins Lagos Island to the west, and at the edge of the Lagos Lagoon. Popular with the extreme upper class residents of Nigerian society, Ikoyi is arguably one of the wealthiest communities within Nigeria. The area that makes up Ikoyi was originally a continuous land mass with Lagos Island, until it was separated from it by the MacGregor canal, a narrow waterway that was dug by the British colonial government. This canal has now been built over or filled in, so that the island is fused with Lagos Island once again. It has been called in derogatory terms the "Beverly Hills by the slum" or the Belgravia of Lagos. The area is often referred to as Ikoyi I and Ikoyi II. Ikoyi I is typically closer to the original, older part of Ikoyi, which includes some of the most historic and well-established neighbourhoods. Ikoyi I often features more traditio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zakariya Maimalari
Zakariya Maimalari was a Nigerian Army brigadier, he was killed in the 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. He was commander of the 2nd Brigade, Apapa, Lagos in 1966. Maimalari was born in the present day Yobe State, he was educated at Barewa College, Zaria. Maimalari and his childhood friend, Lawan Umar joined the Royal West Africa Frontier Force in 1950. As part of a Nigerianization program to enlist more Nigerians into the senior ranks of army, he underwent preparatory course at the Regular Officers Training School, Teshie Ghana and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Both Maimalari and Lawan attended Sandhusrt but Lawan was later discharged from the army. Maimalari was the first Nigerian regular combatant commissioned into the officer Corps of the Nigerian army. He was an instructor at the Nigerian Military Training College and later commander of the second battalion Nigerian army. The intention to promote more Nigerian officers led to an organizational structure developed by r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Enugu (city)
Enugu ( ; ) is the capital city of Enugu State in Nigeria. The city had a population of 4,690,100 spread across the three Local government areas of Nigeria, LGAs of Enugu East, Enugu North and Enugu South, according to the 2022 Nigerian census. History Early history Énugwú (Igbo verbalization of Enugu) is the capital city of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located in southeastern part of Nigeria. The name Enugu is derived from the two Igbo words Énú Ụ́gwụ́, meaning "hill top", denoting the city's hilly geography. Enugu acquired township status in 1917 and was called Enugwu-Ngwo, but because of the rapid expansion towards areas owned by other indigenous communities, the city was renamed Enugu in 1928. The first settlement in the Enugu area was the small Nike village of Ogui from present day Igala which was present since the era of the Atlantic Slave Trade.Udo, p. 88. ''Nike'' in the Igbo language means "with strength or power".Williams, p. 196. The Nike people acquir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Adekunle Fajuyi
Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (26 June 1926 – 29 July 1966) was a Nigerian soldier of Yoruba origin and the first military governor of the former Western Region, Nigeria. Originally a teacher and clerk, Fajuyi, a native of Ado Ekiti, joined the army in 1943, and as a sergeant in the Nigeria Signal Squadron, Royal West African Frontier Force, was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1951 for helping to contain a mutiny in his unit over food rations. He was trained at the Eaton Hall Officer Candidate School in the United Kingdom from July 1954 until November 1954, when he was short-service commissioned. In 1961, as the 'C' Company commander with the 4 battalion, Queen's Own Nigeria Regiment under Lt. Col. Price, Major Fajuyi was awarded the Military Cross for actions in North Katanga and extricating his unit from an ambush. On completion of Congo operations, Fajuyi became the first indigenous commander of the 1st battalion in Enugu, a position he held until just before the fir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1966 Nigerian Coup D'état
On 15 January 1966, rebellious soldiers led by Kaduna Nzeogwu and 4 others carried out a military putsch, killing 22 people, including the prime minister of Nigeria, many senior politicians, senior Army officers and their wives, and sentinels on protective duty. The coup plotters attacked the cities of Kaduna (city), Kaduna, Ibadan, and Lagos while also blockading the Niger River, Niger and Benue River within a two-day timespan, before being overcome by loyalist forces. Although the coup was considered a failure, it still resulted in a change from an elected government to a military government, albeit led by a different set of senior officers. It also marked the start of a succession of military coups in Nigeria. Background In August 1965, a group of Nigerian Army, Army majors (Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Timothy Onwuatuegwu, Chris Anuforo, Don Okafor, Humphrey Chukwuka, and Adewale Ademoyega) began plotting a coup d'état against incumbent Prime Minister Abubakar Balewa. Alleged Mot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
