C. Odumegwu Ojukwu On The July 29, 1966 Mutiny And Massacre

I have considered with my Executive Committee the very grave events in some parts of the country regarding the rebellion by some sections of the Nigerian army against the National Military Government which resulted in the kidnapping of His Excellency the Head of the National Military Government and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Major General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi, and the cold premeditated murder of officers of eastern Nigerian origin.

In the course of this rebellion, I had discussions with the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Brigadier Ogundipe, who, as the next most senior officer in the absence of the Supreme Commander, should have assumed command of the army; my colleagues, the other military governors; and the Chief of Staff, Army Headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon. During this discussions it was understood that the only conditions on which the rebels would agree to cease-fire were:

1). That the Republic of Nigeria be split into its component parts;

2). That all Southerners resident in the North be repatriated to the South, and all Northerners resident in the South repatriated to the North.

In spite of the fact that the only representations made at these cease-fire negotiations were those of the rebels and and their supporters in the North, and notwithstanding that the views of the people of the Eastern group provinces had not been ascertained, it was agreed to accept these proposals and stop further bloodshed.

The public is aware of the wanton and deliberate massacre of several people of Eastern Nigerian origin in last May’s disturbances in parts of the Northern group of provinces. In view of the very strong feelings aroused among the people of the east at that time as to whether their membership in the Nigerian nation was desirable, I appealed to chiefs and leaders of the people to use their influence to stop any retaliation or precipitate action, in the hope that this would be the final act of sacrifice Easterners would be called to make in the interest of Nigerian unity. However, the brutal and planned annihilation of officers of Eastern Nigerian origin in the last few days has again cat serious doubts as to whether the people of Nigeria after these cruel and bloody atrocities, cn ever sincerely live together as members of the same nation.

I have noted the action taken to stop bloodshed in the country, and I now consider that the next step is to open discussions at the appropriate level to allow other sections of the igeria eple to express their views, as their Northern compatriots have recently done, as to what form of association they desire for themselves in accordance with the ceasefire terms.

As a result of the pressures and representations now being made to me by the chiefs, leaders and organizations in the Eastern group of provinces, I am arranging for representatives of chiefs and organizations in these provinces to meet and advise me.

Meanwhile, I appeal to our people of these provinces not to give expression to their feelings in any violent form but to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities in he assurance that their rights of self-determination will be guaranteed.

I have further conveyed to the Chief of Staff at Supreme Headquarters, my fellow military governors, and the Chief of Staff at Army Headquarters my understanding that the only intention of the announcement made by the Chief of Staff at Army Headquarters today is the restoration of peace in the country, while immediate negotiations are begun, to allow the people of Nigeria to determine the form of their future association.

August 1,1966 Broadcast, Enugu, Eastern Nigeria Government House.

C. Odumegwu Ojukwu's Diary Of Events July 05 - August 26, 1966

July 5-25, 1966: Appeasement measures by Major General Aguiyi Ironsi continue. Efforts at personal friendship and alliance with Northern Emirs. Sultan of Sokoto visits Lagos. Persistent rumors of Northern Nigeria’s plan to secede from the Federation. Meeting of the Supreme Military Council. The council endorses the Supreme Commander’s plan to undertake and educate the people tour of the country.

July 25, 1966: Major General Ironsi begins national tour with a two day visit to Northern Nigeria. Series of dramatic and bloody events follow in cities and towns of Nigeria.

July 25-27, 1966: Ikeja; A Northern Nigerian basketball team from Abeokuta Barracks arrives in battle order to rehearse and reconnoiter for undisclosed “impeding operations.” Secret meetings of Northern Nigerian army officers with Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon, Lieutenant Colonel Murtala Mohammed, and Major Alao in Ikeja Garrison.

July 28:1966: Ibadan: The Supreme Commander, Major General Ironsi, addresses a meeting of traditional rulers. In Lagos, Lt.-Col. Mohammed, Major Alao, and Major Martin Adamu alert and address the Northern soldiers in secret. This is followed by the disarming of Southern Soldiers, seizure of the armory, and distribution of arms and ammunition to Northern troops. Abeokuta (Western Nigeria): Two sections of Northern Nigeria troops break into a meeting of officers mess and kill Major Obienu, Lieutenant Orok, and Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Okonweze - all Eastern and Mid-Western officers. Ibadan: Southern troops in the Supreme Commander’s bodyguard at Ibadan Government House are removed and disarmed by troops sent by Lieutenant Colonel Gowon. The Northerners among the bodyguards are reinforced by a special contingent of 24 Northern soldiers. Midnight; Ikeja: The stage is set for a coup. The leader of the coup Lieutenant Colonel Gowon, moves into his rebel headquarters at Ikeja Barracks. The code word for the coup is Araba Day - Secession Day.

July 29-30, 1966: Eastern Nigerian officers and soldiers are lined out and shot along with some Eastern Nigerian policemen and civilians. Abeokuta: Northern troops disarm Southern soldiers among the guards, break into armory, arm all northern troops, arrest and detain all Southern Soldiers. The eastern Nigerian soldiers among those arrested are sorted out and shot. Captain Ogbonna (an easterner) manages to escape from Abeokuta and telephone Enugu to alert me of the coup. This is my first knowledge of what is happening. Kaduna (Northern Nigeria capital): Eastern Nigeria Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion, Lieutenant Okoro, is shot by two Northern Nigerian officers, Lt. Gambo and Lt. Buka Dimka. Alarm is sounded early in the morning and all troops assemble at the hockey pitch, which is surrounded by Northern troops. All the eastern Nigerian soldiers are shot dead. Ibadan: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph R. I. Akahan, commanding officer of 4th Batallion, convenes a meeting of his officers. When the officers arrive 74 of them who are Easterners are arrested and shot. Looting of property and raping of wives of Eastern Nigerian soldiers by Northern troops begin. Lietenant Colonel Akahan later gives an assurance to eastern Nigerian soldiers in hiding that there will be no more bloodshed. The soldiers came out of their hiding places and are massacred by northern troops. Enugu (Eastern Nigeria): Northern Nigerian troops attempt to seize the armory and arm themselves, to carry out their scheduled assignment in the coup. The attempt is foiled by the precautionary measure of Lieutenant Colonel Ogunewe, who is already alerted by the telephone call from Abeokuta.

July 30: 1966: Some Northern Nigerin political leaders and their Western allies of the Nigerian National Democratic Party hold a series of secret meetings with Northern army officers to finalize plans for the break-up of the country. Lt.-Col. Gowon hoists and flies in front of the 2nd Battalion headquarters at Ikeja (his temporary headquarters) a flag in red, yellow, black, green, andkhaki colors - the new flag of the “Republic of the North.” Telephone conversation with the chief of staff, Supreme Headquarters, Brigadier Ogundipe. He says that the Northern troops are determined to continue the bloodshed until Northern Nigeria is allowed to secede from the Federation. I agree to the terms to further bloodshed. Situation deteriorates. Increased massacre of Easterners by Northern troops. Brigadier Ogundipe flees.

July 3, 1966: Telephone conversation with Lt.-Col Gowon. He confirms the mutineers’ terms mentioned yesterday by Brigadier Ogundipe. I agree. I pledge my cooperation to help stop the bloodshed before we call on the people to decide the future of the country. I warn him that my government does not recognize the mutiny and that he should not announce himself as Supreme Commander.

August 1, 1966: Scheduled day for beginning of the commission of inquiry into May 29, 1966 Pogrom. Thwarted by July 29 mutiny, British High Commissioner, Cumming Bruce, has top-secret talks with Lt. Col. Gowon and sends envoys to Northern Nigerian emirs to dissuade Northern Nigeria from secession. Lt. Col Gowon appoints himself Supreme Commander and Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria. In the broadcast, he declares that there is no basis for Nigeria unity. Major Ekanem, Provost Marshall, reporting for duty in response to Lt.-Col Gowon’s assurance of safety, is shot dead on Carter Bridge in Lagos by Lieutenant Numan, a northern Nigerian officer,

August 2, 1966: Release of Western Nigeria army officers who took part in the January 15, 1966, revolution. At the same time, their eastern Nigerian counterparts who were detained in the North are shot by Northern officers at a spot 19 miles fro kaduna.

August 8, 1966: At the army workshop, Yaba, all neastern Nigerian army personnel are ordered to leave on pain of execution.

August 9, 1966: Meeting of representatives of the military governors is convened in lagos to consider what immediate steps are to be taken to stop further bloodshed and reduce the extremely high tension existing in the country.

August 12, 1966: Mass arrest of all NCO’s of Eastern Nigerian origin in Apapa, Yaba and Surulere.

August 16, 1966: Army officers of eastern Nigerian origin are abducted from Benin Prisons and shot by Northern Nigerian troops. The rebel troops at the same time release the Northern Nigeria troops. The rebel troops at the same time release the Northern Nigerian soldiers who are in detention with the easterners for their participation in the January 15, 1966 revolution. Major Daramola orders the shooting of 15 eastern soldiers.

August 18, 1966: Atmosphere of insecurity heightens in the country. I assure a delegation of oil companies of the maximum protection of their business by my government.

August 20, 1966: Following the decision to return troops to their regions of origin, I send for eastern Nigeria soldiers. To forestall this, Lt. Nuhu gives orders for the execution of 22 Eastern Nigerian non-commissioned officers detained by the mutineers in Ikeja barracks.

August 25, 1966: Influx of refugees from all parts of Nigeria back to the region increases by the hour. I give directives to ministries and departments to absorb as many refugees and servants as they can.

August 26, 1966: I set up the Rehabilitation Commission wit an initial sum of 1 million Pounds.

Nigeria: The January 1966 Crisis

"(Lagos, Nigeria) St. Petersburg Times, January 18, 1966. The leader of the bloody uprising that propelled Nigeria to the brink of civil war has surrendered, the provincial military government announced yesterday. The surrender of rebel Chukwuma Nzeogwu apparently placed the entire military squarely behind Major-General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi, the 41-year old Army ...Commander-in-Chief who took over the government Sunday. Radio reports quoted Ironsi as saying Nzeogwu had surrendered his command and offered to serve the new government. Ironsi said he had accepted Nzeogwu's pledge of loyalty to the new government. It was uncertain whether disciplinary was planned against the rebels. Ironsi attributed the Satuday revolt to general disorder in the Army.' He said every effort was being made to locate Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Finance Minister Festus Okotie Eboh who were kidnapped in the early hours (January 15, 1966).

Ironsi who some observers saw as a potential military strongman, said he had no desire to become permanent leader of the vast West African Republic and its 56-million inhabitants. He said, however, a 'Supreme Military Council' would rule Nigeria until a new constitution can be brought into being according to the wishes of the people. Meanwhile, Ghana accorded swift recognition to the new regime but Britain - former colonial ruler of the African State - held back, apparently to wait out developments there. The British government said it received confirmation last night that rebel resistance in the northern province of Nigeria had collapse...'"

----St. Petersburg Times, January 18, 1966