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How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) - Politics - Nairaland

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How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by leanonme82: 7:09pm On Sep 16, 2023
Last hours of Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari

January 14, 1966… There was a party at Maimalari’s house at 11, Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos. it was planned by his ADC. The man he trusted with his life, Emmanuel Arinze Ifeajuna. The very man who planned the first coup in Nigeria in which his boss was one of the targets to be eliminated.

At this time, Maimalari was the Commander of 2ndbrigade Nigerian army in Lagos, Ifeajuna was his chief of staff and in charge of his details. Maimalari was the most powerful soldier from the North and a greatly admired public figure among northerners.

Maimalari was celebrating his marriage to a new bride. Ifeajuna sent out all the letters for the party that day. All senior officers and their ADC were at the party that evening. The list included the GOC of the army, Aguyi Ironsi, Colonel Kur Mohammed, Chief of Staff, army headquarters and Colonel Yakubu Gowon, commander of the 2nd battalion at Ikeja. A lot of politicians and cabinet ministers were also at the party. As the party progressed, his new wife from Kano was presented to his friends. She was young and very beautiful. Maimlari showed her off as the soldiers gazed at her while the orchestra and the 2nd battalion band from Ikeja drummed for the occasion.

A lot of junior officers were at the party as well. Some of them were in on Ifeajuna’s plans for a coup the next day. At midnight, shortly after the party, they all met at Ifeajuna’s house at Apapa. He got in late, there were 12 officers waiting for him among them were Humprey Chukwuka (deputy general in the Nigerian army) and Major Christain Anuforo, General staff officer at the army headquarters.

A Yoruba akotileta house negro was at the meeting. His name was Adegboyega. Another very important active member of the group was Anuforo. Other important officers at the meeting that evening were Donatus Okafor, Captain Ogbonna Oji and Lientenant Oyewole. Someone joined them much later at the meeting, Obienu, his task was to take over the barracks at Abeokuta which had a lot of firepower that they needed for the coup. The man tasked to go to Maimalari’s house to kill him was Donatus Okafor.

2am, the phone rang at Maimalari’s house, it was Elizabeth, Yakubu Gowon’s wife that called him to tell him her husband had been arrested by some of the coup plotters. While Maimalari was on the phone with him, he heard commotion at his own gate. One of his guards had been shot and killed for refusing to open the gate . Immediately he heard the gunshot, he ran upstairs to his house, took his new wife and hid her in the servant’s quarters, then he ran to the back of his house, scaled the fence, and disappeared into the darkness.

Donatus Okafor….. nearly ran mad when he realized Maimlari had escaped…. Maimalari was the most powerful solder in Lagos ( although not the most senior)…. he was the commander of the southern brigade in Apapa… lots of the fighting forces of the battalions…. Field artillery corps… armored and mechanized corps were under his command… he could mobilize an entire brigade with his powers in the military….. most of the ammunitions that Ifeajuna took from the barracks for the coup, he did so with forged clearance in the name of Maimlari

Okafor told his soldiers to search every part of the house and to kill Maimalari if they sight him anywhere. If Maimalari made his way to any barracks, they were all doomed. He could easily round them up and they would face a well predicted fate in his hands…. When they did not find him in the house, they went back in their cars and searched around Thompson Street and glover road in search of Maimalari… when they did not find him… they searched along Bourdillon road…. Really frantic to make sure he did not reach the barracks.

Maimlari was running on the streets in his Pijamas… bare feet, trying to make his way to the federal guards palace…. If any car drove by, he docked into the shrubs or bush….. now a car passed by and he tried to dock… then from where he was hiding, he noticed it was a familiar car…. Of his ADC…. They partied together few hours earlier…… he jumped out from the bush where he was hiding and waved down at him… unaware that he just fell into a trap……

‘Emma… thank God…. Some of your boys have gone crazy… Do you have a knowledge of who they might be and what unit? …
’No sir’ replied Ifeajuna
‘Never mind, just get me to the barracks … I am going to find those bastards in the morning and finish them’

As Maimalari walked towards Ifeajuna’s car… He saw the Prime minister… Tafawa Balewa in the car…. Maimalari froze to his feet… realizing he just walked into a trap…. Ifeajuna told him to say his last prayers… cocked his gun and fired three bullets at the Brigadier…. He fell to the floor and died instantly…. Ifeajuna fired five more shots at him on the floor….

This was the last hours of a man that did no wrong…. In the hands of a man he took like a brother and entrusted his life into…. Ifeajuna... the man who celebrated with him just a few hours earlier…. Murdered him on his wedding day……
The January 1966 coup was not a revolution... like the Obidient movement, it was a sham... the rage in the heart of these savages going around at night across the country in their coordinated selective murders as they pelleted their victims with bullets is all that needed to be observed.

On that same route… Aguyi Ironsi was intercepted and allowed to pass as he made his way to the barracks.

21 Likes 1 Share

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by Acekidc4(m): 7:10pm On Sep 16, 2023
Igbos are the first People to Betray all the other Tribes in Nigeria. They're the first Betrayer of Nigeria cos of Power Hungriness!! Yeye People!!

39 Likes 4 Shares

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by forgiveness: 7:17pm On Sep 16, 2023
Part of our history.

7 Likes

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by Nobody: 7:20pm On Sep 16, 2023
This is a trully sad story.

I love to read Nigeria's history.

His blood was shed for no reason at all.

RIP.

13 Likes 2 Shares

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by clintino700(m): 7:26pm On Sep 16, 2023
sad
Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by Ashez: 7:33pm On Sep 16, 2023
Ifeajuna na mumu man

7 Likes 1 Share

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by MrsTwrite(f): 8:41pm On Sep 16, 2023
💔💔

1 Like

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by Franzinni: 8:46pm On Sep 16, 2023
I love all these stories, they make me realize everything at its own time. If you fail to live in the moment, you still become part of the moment

3 Likes

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by pandoragirigory: 8:49pm On Sep 16, 2023
Reasons why igbos will never be trusted with power

18 Likes 3 Shares

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by Timothy89(m): 9:13pm On Sep 16, 2023
did those fools abusing Northerners now see the reason they fear igbo President. just look at what happen post election, how peter obi kinsmen were abusing the tribes of those that supported them?



do not entrust your safety, businesses in any igbo hand if you want to live long, even my woman an igbo always warned me about doing business with igbo



out of 100% obidients mummies outside of southeast, 70% have dropped, some fools are still carried away with the lies despite glaring of obi failure in Anambra foolish man

19 Likes 5 Shares

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by tishbite42: 9:14pm On Sep 16, 2023
Afon jas and lies
Why We Struck - Adewale Ademoyega

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by yarimo(m): 9:36pm On Sep 16, 2023
Bitter and hateful people are criminals

39 Likes 1 Share

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by Epistasis(m): 9:43pm On Sep 16, 2023
This country is not ripe for our brothers to lead yet, Maybe after 2038 Sha.

5 Likes 1 Share

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by JagabanB: 9:47pm On Sep 16, 2023
History hides so many things.

6 Likes

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by delpee(f): 10:02pm On Sep 16, 2023
A very sad part of our history. Moving away from the regional set up is a major factor in the ruination of this country.

The coupists made things worse by centralising power in the Federal Government. That killed the fair competition and progress we were making in the different regions, which could have culminated in faster and more sustainable progress, for the regions and the country as a whole.

10 Likes 1 Share

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by BrodaBenad: 10:05pm On Sep 16, 2023
Typical SW Rice Bandit libelists cheesy

Still working on " let's hate igbos' madness grin grin

Stale! grin even north central is now aligning with Igbos cheesy




Meanwhile tinubu is a failure cheesy

11 Likes 1 Share

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by garfield1: 10:19pm On Sep 16, 2023
tishbite42:
Afon jas and lies
Why We Struck - Adewale Ademoyega

Even in this book,he confirmed this

6 Likes 1 Share

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by truthhurtsnaira: 10:21pm On Sep 16, 2023
Skyview01:
This is a trully sad story.

I love to read Nigeria's history.

His blood was shed for no reason at all.

RIP.

Did you also read that Luggard called your forefathers lazy and full of “vanity”….

And how his side chic coined the name Nigeria from NIGGER AREA?

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by truthhurtsnaira: 10:22pm On Sep 16, 2023
BrodaBenad:
Typical SW Rice Bandit libelists cheesy

Still working on " let's hate igbos' madness grin grin

Stale! grin even north central is now aligning with Igbos cheesy




Meanwhile tinubu is a failure cheesy


Dont mind them… They know they are shythole blackies…. They cant tell you one single policy stance Tinubu has…. But have decided to cover it up with Igbo this…. Igbo that ni….

N I G G E R S

5 Likes 1 Share

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by maestroferddi: 10:26pm On Sep 16, 2023
You just cobbled up fairy tales garnished with defeatist hatred and spiced with an inferiority complex.

The January 1966 coup and even the more evil July 1966 counter coup were very unfortunate and condemnable.

You don't cherry pick on the one to demonize because you cannot outgrow paranoia and insecurity...

6 Likes 2 Shares

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by complexstuffs(m): 10:33pm On Sep 16, 2023
Some say IIGB0S are a cursed tribe

12 Likes 4 Shares

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by tishbite42: 10:43pm On Sep 16, 2023
garfield1:


Even in this book,he confirmed this
And he also confirmed that the coup d'etat wasn't an Igbo one
How about that?!
How about his claim that they planned to release Awo and make him the PM?!
Don't be selective with your 'truth'

4 Likes

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by garfield1: 10:45pm On Sep 16, 2023
tishbite42:

And he also confirmed that the coup d'etat wasn't an Igbo one
How about that?!
How about his claim that they planned to release Awo and make him the PM?!
Don't be selective with your 'truth'

Oga,most of those that took part in it were igbos.the beneficiary was igbos.all those killed were non igbos so there's nothing you can do about it

20 Likes 5 Shares

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by tishbite42: 10:46pm On Sep 16, 2023
garfield1:


Oga,most of those that took part in it were igbos.the beneficiary was igbos.all those killed were non igbos so there's nothing you can do about it
Stop beating about the bush
Answer my questions straightly
After all, a Yoruba man wrote the book I'm quoting

3 Likes

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by tishbite42: 10:48pm On Sep 16, 2023
garfield1:


Oga,most of those that took part in it were igbos.the beneficiary was igbos.all those killed were non igbos so there's nothing you can do about it
All those killed were non-Igbos?! How?!
Col. Arthur Unegbe is a Fulani man abi

3 Likes

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by Nobody: 10:50pm On Sep 16, 2023
truthhurtsnaira:


Did you also read that Luggard called your forefathers lazy and full of “vanity”….

And how his side chic coined the name Nigeria from NIGGER AREA?


What Lord Luggard said is honestly irrelevant in 2023.

1 Like 1 Share

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by garfield1: 11:51pm On Sep 16, 2023
tishbite42:

All those killed were non-Igbos?! How?!
Col. Arthur Unegbe is a Fulani man abi

95% were non igbos.carrying out the coup wasn't the issue but the bloodiness and the elimination pattern.whar were the coupists thinking? You could have carried out a bloody coup.the killing of ahmadu bello the leader of the north and the killing of brigadier maimalari the military icon of the northern soldiers was the greatest error.these two killings is still haunting Nigeria till now.the se should find a way and placate the north

12 Likes 1 Share

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by LaRosa01: 3:45am On Sep 17, 2023
which North Central?quote me there is no difference between Igbo and the Fulani,only difference is Fulani are smoother in operation and think further while the igbos are loud and shallow in thinking.
both tribes are the problem of Nigeria

BrodaBenad:
Typical SW Rice Bandit libelists cheesy

Still working on " let's hate igbos' madness grin grin

Stale! grin even north central is now aligning with Igbos cheesy




Meanwhile tinubu is a failure cheesy

13 Likes 2 Shares

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by tiger28: 6:10am On Sep 17, 2023
AND these are the PEOPLE that WANT to rule OUR Nigeria

GREEDY SAVAGES!!!

They will NEVER taste that seat of Power.

JUST SEE how they have recently become daily nuisances WITHOUT power....imagine if they get the power

No one should trust them!

11 Likes 4 Shares

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by Yujin(m): 7:25am On Sep 17, 2023
LaRosa01:

which North Central?quote me there is no difference between Igbo and the Fulani,only difference is Fulani are smoother in operation and think further while the igbos are loud and shallow in thinking.
both tribes are the problem of Nigeria

So what do we do to both the Igbos and Fulanis? Expel them from Nigeria right?

2 Likes

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by Ngozi123(f): 10:16am On Sep 17, 2023
leanonme82:
Last hours of Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari

January 14, 1966… There was a party at Maimalari’s house at 11, Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos. it was planned by his ADC. The man he trusted with his life, Emmanuel Arinze Ifeajuna. The very man who planned the first coup in Nigeria in which his boss was one of the targets to be eliminated.

At this time, Maimalari was the Commander of 2ndbrigade Nigerian army in Lagos, Ifeajuna was his chief of staff and in charge of his details. Maimalari was the most powerful soldier from the North and a greatly admired public figure among northerners.

Maimalari was celebrating his marriage to a new bride. Ifeajuna sent out all the letters for the party that day. All senior officers and their ADC were at the party that evening. The list included the GOC of the army, Aguyi Ironsi, Colonel Kur Mohammed, Chief of Staff, army headquarters and Colonel Yakubu Gowon, commander of the 2nd battalion at Ikeja. A lot of politicians and cabinet ministers were also at the party. As the party progressed, his new wife from Kano was presented to his friends. She was young and very beautiful. Maimlari showed her off as the soldiers gazed at her while the orchestra and the 2nd battalion band from Ikeja drummed for the occasion.

A lot of junior officers were at the party as well. Some of them were in on Ifeajuna’s plans for a coup the next day. At midnight, shortly after the party, they all met at Ifeajuna’s house at Apapa. He got in late, there were 12 officers waiting for him among them were Humprey Chukwuka (deputy general in the Nigerian army) and Major Christain Anuforo, General staff officer at the army headquarters.

A Yoruba akotileta house negro was at the meeting. His name was Adegboyega. Another very important active member of the group was Anuforo. Other important officers at the meeting that evening were Donatus Okafor, Captain Ogbonna Oji and Lientenant Oyewole. Someone joined them much later at the meeting, Obienu, his task was to take over the barracks at Abeokuta which had a lot of firepower that they needed for the coup. The man tasked to go to Maimalari’s house to kill him was Donatus Okafor.

2am, the phone rang at Maimalari’s house, it was Elizabeth, Yakubu Gowon’s wife that called him to tell him her husband had been arrested by some of the coup plotters. While Maimalari was on the phone with him, he heard commotion at his own gate. One of his guards had been shot and killed for refusing to open the gate . Immediately he heard the gunshot, he ran upstairs to his house, took his new wife and hid her in the servant’s quarters, then he ran to the back of his house, scaled the fence, and disappeared into the darkness.

Donatus Okafor….. nearly ran mad when he realized Maimlari had escaped…. Maimalari was the most powerful solder in Lagos ( although not the most senior)…. he was the commander of the southern brigade in Apapa… lots of the fighting forces of the battalions…. Field artillery corps… armored and mechanized corps were under his command… he could mobilize an entire brigade with his powers in the military….. most of the ammunitions that Ifeajuna took from the barracks for the coup, he did so with forged clearance in the name of Maimlari

Okafor told his soldiers to search every part of the house and to kill Maimalari if they sight him anywhere. If Maimalari made his way to any barracks, they were all doomed. He could easily round them up and they would face a well predicted fate in his hands…. When they did not find him in the house, they went back in their cars and searched around Thompson Street and glover road in search of Maimalari… when they did not find him… they searched along Bourdillon road…. Really frantic to make sure he did not reach the barracks.

Maimlari was running on the streets in his Pijamas… bare feet, trying to make his way to the federal guards palace…. If any car drove by, he docked into the shrubs or bush….. now a car passed by and he tried to dock… then from where he was hiding, he noticed it was a familiar car…. Of his ADC…. They partied together few hours earlier…… he jumped out from the bush where he was hiding and waved down at him… unaware that he just fell into a trap……

‘Emma… thank God…. Some of your boys have gone crazy… Do you have a knowledge of who they might be and what unit? …
’No sir’ replied Ifeajuna
‘Never mind, just get me to the barracks … I am going to find those bastards in the morning and finish them’

As Maimalari walked towards Ifeajuna’s car… He saw the Prime minister… Tafawa Balewa in the car…. Maimalari froze to his feet… realizing he just walked into a trap…. Ifeajuna told him to say his last prayers… cocked his gun and fired three bullets at the Brigadier…. He fell to the floor and died instantly…. Ifeajuna fired five more shots at him on the floor….

This was the last hours of a man that did no wrong…. In the hands of a man he took like a brother and entrusted his life into…. Ifeajuna... the man who celebrated with him just a few hours earlier…. Murdered him on his wedding day……
The January 1966 coup was not a revolution... like the Obidient movement, it was a sham... the rage in the heart of these savages going around at night across the country in their coordinated selective murders as they pelleted their victims with bullets is all that needed to be observed.

On that same route… Aguyi Ironsi was intercepted and allowed to pass as he made his way to the barracks.

It's quite disgusting that you're comparing this embellished story to Peter Obi and his supporters. You do realise that this led to the mass killings of innocent Igbo people, right? Is that what you're trying to promote right now?

3 Likes

Re: How Brig. Zakari Maimalari Was Killed By His Chief Of Staff, Ifeajuna (Jan 1966) by Ngozi123(f): 10:22am On Sep 17, 2023
BrodaBenad:
Typical SW Rice Bandit libelists cheesy

Still working on " let's hate igbos' madness grin grin

Stale! grin even north central is now aligning with Igbos cheesy




Meanwhile tinubu is a failure cheesy

They really have no idea what they're doing.

Every day is for the thief, one day is for the owner.

4 Likes

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