General Benjamin Adekunle (rtd), popularly known as ‘Black
Scorpion’ is dead. His wife, Folake, said he died Saturday morning
in Lagos although the cause of his death was not revealed.
Adekunle was born in Kaduna. His father was a native of
Ogbomosho, while his mother was a member of the Bachama tribe.
He underwent secondary education at the government college,
Okene (in present day Kogi State).
He enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1958 shortly after completing
his school certificate examinations. He passed the army selection
examinations and thereafter was despatched to the Royal
Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK, the British Army’s initial
officer entry academy. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on
December 15, 1960.
As a platoon commander, he served in Kasai Province of Congo
with the 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Nigeria Regiment during his
first ONUC UN peace keeping tour of duty. In 1962, Lt. Adekunle
became Aide-de-Camp to the governor of the eastern region, Sir
Akanu Ibiam.
The following year, as a Captain, he was posted back to the
Congo as Staff Captain (A) to the Nigerian Brigade HQ at
Luluabourg – under Brigadier B. Ogundipe. In 1964, Major
Adekunle attended the Defence Services Staff College at
Wellington, in India.
When he returned he was briefly appointed Adjutant General at
the Army Headquarters in May 1965 to replace Lt. Col. Yakubu
Gowon, who was proceeding on a course outside the country.
However, he later handed over the position to Lt. Col. James Pam
and was posted back to his old Battalion (1st Bn) in Enugu as a
Company Commander.
Adekunle later assumed command of the Lagos Garrison as a
substantive Lt. Col. When the Nigerian Civil War erupted in July
1967, Adekunle was tasked to lead elements which included two
new battalions (7th and 8th) – to conduct the historic sea borne
assault on Bonny in the Bight of Benin on 26 July 1968 (carried
out by Major Isaac Adaka Boro’s unit).
This happened after the federal government gained confidence of
most south western ethnic groups as a direct result of Biafran
push to mid-west state and probe into Western region. Adekunle
was promoted to Colonel after the Bonny landing.
The 6th (under Major Jalo) and 8th (under Major Ochefu)
battalions of the Lagos Garrison subsequently took part in
operations to liberate the Midwest following the Biafran invasion
of August 1967. The 7th (under Major Abubakar) stayed behind
to hold Bonny. Because Major Jalo’s Unit was seconded to Lt. Col.
Murtala Mohammed’s 2nd Division, Adekunle was left with only
the 8th Battalion at Escravos.
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mod na wa oohh

A really great warrior and hero has passed. We will never forget your heroic deeds and fight against evil

Nawa for naija, this man's house is next to where I lived in Surulere 4 years ago. We were neighbours, I wonder where all these people eulogising him now were when he was alive. The likes of Tinubu, Fashola etc. I know he was so poor during d last days of his life, he hardly put on Gen when NEpa goes off. RIP Brg Adenkule as u were popularly called. Fake politicians everywhere, they only remember u when u are no more.