₦airaland Forum

pongwa:
do you have hard facts to disprove my assertion?

Igbos made up over 60% of mid ranking military officers before the January 1966 coup.

1. Were all the Igbos in the military involved in the coup?

2. Were there Igbos in the military involved in suppressing the coup?

OkCornel:
Igbos made up over 60% of mid ranking military officers before the January 1966 coup.

1. Were all the Igbos in the military involved in the coup?

2. Were there Igbos in the military involved in suppressing the coup?

do you have the list of mid ranking officers in the military at that time? If not, rest please

If the majority of those fingered in the coup attempt were mostly from the old eastern region, isn't it safe to say it was an Ibo coup? It's just simple analogy, and If you now say that most of the mid ranking army officers of that time were from the eastern region, do you have hard facts or proof? If not you have got no point

Yorubafather:
Sounds like one of those who has been programmed to believe one thing to the end of their lives, aka "Zombies" for a reason. courtesy of SeverusSnape

Very despicable lot... Arguing with them is a waste of precious time.

pongwa:
do you have the list of mid ranking officers in the military at that time? If not, rest please

If the majority of those fingered in the coup attempt were mostly from the old eastern region, isn't it safe to say it was an Ibo coup? It's just simple analogy, and If you now say that most of the mid ranking army officers of that time were from the eastern region, do you have hard facts or proof? If not you have got no point

How is it an Igbo coup when;

1. It involved non-Igbo coupists
2. Not all Igbos in the military were involved in the coup.
2. Igbo military personnel were actively involved in suppressing the coup 🤷

pongwa:
do you have the list of mid ranking officers in the military at that time? If not, rest please

If the majority of those fingered in the coup attempt were mostly from the old eastern region, isn't it safe to say it was an Ibo coup? It's just simple analogy, and If you now say that most of the mid ranking army officers of that time were from the eastern region, do you have hard facts or proof? If not you have got no point

A bit of research will spare you needless embarrassment.

Let’s start with Grok AI before I provide data from history scholars.

Determining the exact ethnic composition of middle-ranked military officers in Nigeria as of 1965 is challenging due to the lack of comprehensive, publicly available statistical data from that period. However, I can provide an informed analysis based on historical accounts, scholarly estimates, and the broader context of the Nigerian military at the time.

### Context of the Nigerian Military in 1965
- **Middle-Ranked Officers**: This typically refers to ranks such as Captain, Major, and Lieutenant Colonel—officers who were above junior ranks (e.g., Lieutenants) but below senior ranks (e.g., Colonels, Brigadiers, and Generals).
- **Size of the Army**: The Nigerian Army in 1965 was small, with an estimated total strength of 7,000–10,000 personnel, including enlisted men and officers. The officer corps was a fraction of this, likely numbering in the low hundreds.
- **Ethnic Dynamics**: Post-independence (1960), the Nigerian military reflected colonial recruitment patterns and regional educational disparities. The British had prioritized recruitment from the Northern Region for enlisted men, while Southerners (particularly Igbos from the Eastern Region) were overrepresented among officers due to higher education levels and access to British training institutions like Sandhurst.

### Evidence and Estimates
1. **Igbo Representation in the Officer Corps**:
- Historical narratives, such as those from Frederick Forsyth’s *The Biafra Story* and Max Siollun’s *Oil, Politics and Violence*, suggest that Igbos were disproportionately represented in the officer corps, especially in middle ranks, by the mid-1960s. This stemmed from their early dominance in education and civil service roles, which translated into military commissions.
- In 1965, Igbos likely made up a significant portion of officers due to their recruitment into the Nigerian Army during and after World War II, as well as their success in competitive officer training programs.

2. **Quantitative Claims**:
- While no official census of the military’s ethnic breakdown exists for 1965, some historians and analysts estimate that Igbos constituted between 50% and 70% of the officer corps, particularly in middle ranks. For instance, Robin Luckham’s *The Nigerian Military: A Sociological Analysis of Authority and Revolt 1960–67* notes that Igbos held a majority of posts in technical, administrative, and middle-tier combat roles.
- A widely cited claim from the period leading up to the January 1966 coup is that Igbos comprised over 60% of officers ranked Major and below. This perception fueled Northern fears of Igbo dominance, though exact figures are debated.

3. **Senior vs. Middle Ranks**:
- At senior levels (Colonels and above), Igbo representation dropped significantly. Officers like Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (Igbo) and Lieutenant Colonel Conrad Nwawo (Igbo) were exceptions, while Northerners (e.g., Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari, Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun) and Westerners held many top posts.
- Middle ranks, however, were more Igbo-heavy due to the younger generation of officers who had joined post-1945 and risen through the ranks by 1965.

4. **Coup Plotters as a Snapshot**:
- The January 1966 coup provides a glimpse into the officer corps. Of the key plotters (mostly Majors and Captains), a majority were Igbo (e.g., Nzeogwu, Ifeajuna, Anuforo), though Yoruba (e.g., Ademoyega) and others were also involved. This suggests a strong Igbo presence in middle ranks, but not an exclusive one.

### Did Igbos Constitute Over 60% of Middle-Ranked Officers?
- **Probable Answer**: Yes, it is likely that Igbos constituted over 60% of middle-ranked officers (Captains to Majors) in 1965. This estimate aligns with historical analyses and the ethnic composition of coup participants, though it cannot be confirmed with precise statistics.
- **Caveats**:
- The total number of middle-ranked officers was small (perhaps 100–200), so even a 60% figure might represent only 60–120 individuals.
- Regional imbalances were exaggerated in public perception after the 1966 coup, which targeted mostly non-Igbo senior officers, reinforcing the narrative of Igbo dominance.
- No definitive archival data (e.g., from the Nigerian Army’s personnel records) is publicly accessible to settle the question conclusively.

### Conclusion
Based on available evidence, it is reasonable to conclude that Igbos likely exceeded 60% of middle-ranked military officers in Nigeria as of 1965, driven by educational advantages and early recruitment trends. However, without official records, this remains an educated estimate rather than a proven fact. If you’d like me to dig deeper into specific sources or refine this further, let me know!

OkCornel:
A bit of research will spare you needless embarrassment.

Let’s start with Grok AI before I provide data from history scholars.

you based your point on estimations and suggestions from different accounts and non-credible facts, as well as from debatable sources through artificial intelligence (makes you a weak researcher). That's a sign of intellectual laziness from your end. The military has accurate data of statistics of their ranks, it will do you well to consult such. Until then, you can make a proposition about the war or leave your opinion as an estimation too. Meanwhile, my assertion of Ibo coup is still valid based on the participants

pongwa:
you based your point on estimations and suggestions from different accounts and non-credible facts, as well as from debatable sources through artificial intelligence (makes you a weak researcher). That's a sign of intellectual laziness from your end. The military has accurate data of statistics of their ranks, it will do you well to consult such. Until then, you can make a proposition about the war or leave your opinion as an estimation too. Meanwhile, my assertion of Ibo coup is still valid based on the participants

Illiterate can you stop fouling this thread with your demented ignorance!! ..... you sounds like a kid

pongwa:
you based your point on estimations and suggestions from different accounts and non-credible facts, as well as from debatable sources through artificial intelligence (makes you a weak researcher). That's a sign of intellectual laziness from your end. The military has accurate data of statistics of their ranks, it will do you well to consult such. Until then, you can make a proposition about the war or leave your opinion as an estimation too. Meanwhile, my assertion of Ibo coup is still valid based on the participants

Do you want excerpts from Max Siollun and Frederick Forsyth? Or you just pretended not to see those ones too?

pongwa:
you based your point on estimations and suggestions from different accounts and non-credible facts, as well as from debatable sources through artificial intelligence (makes you a weak researcher). That's a sign of intellectual laziness from your end. The military has accurate data of statistics of their ranks, it will do you well to consult such. Until then, you can make a proposition about the war or leave your opinion as an estimation too. Meanwhile, my assertion of Ibo coup is still valid based on the participants

Mr intellectually “diligent”, provide the “accurate data of statistics and their ranks” to fault my argument or keep shut forever.

If not for the untruthfulness of the average igboman we are not even supposed to be discussing this matter talkless of arguing.

1. There's no where in his book that he said it wasn't an igbo coup, whereas he doubled down by saying that the coup took an ethnic coloration, and we all know the ethnic group he's referring to - igbós.

2. Irrespective of what anybody - dead or alive - says, the facts are staring every body in the eyes: a coup made up of over 90% igbó officers rounded up and killed the military and political leaders of other regions while they spared ALL of theirs. Yet it wasn't an igbo coup okwea?
One clown even requested for 10 trillion as reparation to ndigbos - for a job well done for treacherously killing the leaders of other
regions okwea??

3) na ndiyorubas get una time. Sebi u see say the northerners - who were most affected by una treachery - nor talk anything, yet they haven't forgotten neither have they forgiven u.

Make una dey play.

Ebubu:
So why was IBB confessing close to his grave it wasn't an Igbo coup?

Yo-rubber

kettykings:
Babangida should be commended for coming out boldly against the general beliefs and accepted norms to speak the truth to power.

1. IBB NEVER said it wasn't an igbo coup. In fact he doubled down by saying that the coup UNMISTAKABLY took an ethnic coloration, and u and I know the ethnic group he's referring to- igbós.

There are other satanic lies that they nation is still standing on like the lies that igbos fought the civil war to seize Niger delta oil fields. That igbos declared war on Nigeria

If not the inherently untruthfulness of the average igbo, we aren't even supposed to be delibrating over this matter talkless of arguing about it.
Is it a lie that a coup made up of and spearheaded by over 90% igbós had 90% success in rounding up and snuffing life out of the military and political leaders of other regions but by 'stroke of Chance' couldn't manage to arrest talkless if killing any leaders of theirs?? Is that a (satanic) lie?.

That igbos caused the #EndSARS riots to destroy Lagos, that a certain chinasa tried to burn down Lagos BRT.

Izit a lie that nnamdi kanu and ipôb supervised the destruction of life and properties of southwesterners while alaigbo wasn't attacked? Is that one too a lie??

The lopsided census that has places igbosas rhe 3rd largest ethnic group in Nigeria,

As una nor wish well for Nigeria una go dey reduce. Just watch, small time ijaws go overtake una for that 3rd spot.
Make una dey play!

vvvvv

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=996504038937956&id=100057351074401

JAMO84:
Nzeogwu killed Sardauna
Ifeajuna killed Balewa
Nwobosi killed Akintola
Anuforo killed Maimalari....

Yes, it wasn't igbo coup, it was Ijebu coup.

Mad people everywhere

Can u just imagine!

OkCornel:
Mr intellectually “diligent”, provide the “accurate data of statistics and their ranks” to fault my argument or keep shut forever.

contact military sources and get your facts good day

OkCornel:
Do you want excerpts from Max Siollun and Frederick Forsyth? Or you just pretended not to see those ones too?

he he he he.....
I have seen them, contact accurate sources not accounts

Saltinny:
Illiterate can you stop fouling this thread with your demented ignorance!! ..... you sounds like a kid

when you expose their ignorance, they resort to bully and insults. Typical

Totally agree with you!

SeverusSnape:
The zombies you're mentioning are like Talibans (Mujahedeen), They don't have a thought process, They've been programmed to believe one thing to the end of their lives.

"Zombies" for a reason.

pongwa:
when you expose their ignorance, they resort to bully and insults. Typical

You are allergic to truth ...... what did you exposed and how did i resort to bully and insults? your brain has been programmed to think in a certain abnormal way, you are irredeemable, spit

pongwa:
contact military sources and get your facts good day

Post your sources to counter the military historians.

Obviously you don’t have anything to provide, so get lost.

pongwa:
he he he he.....
I have seen them, contact accurate sources not accounts

And they are not accurate sources abi?

Bring your “accurate” source or keep shut and get off my mentions