How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup - Politics

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How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by Arafat2022(op): 7:44pm On Jan 16

The first woman in the pictures is Hajia Hafsat Bello. She was the wife of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto & Premier of the Northern Region.

She took care of many as the wife of the Premier including one Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu who headed the Officers Training College in Kaduna. Nzeogwu was treated like a son by Sardauna.

Hafsat often sent food on special occasions like Sallah to Nzeogwu & his officers. They made them feel at home in Kaduna & took care of them.

Despite that in the early hours of the morning of January 15th 1966, during the execution of Nigeria's first military coup, Nzeogwu went to Sardauna's home & not only killed him but killed Hafsat & Zurumi, the Premier's traditional bodyguard, as well.

Hafsat threw her body on her husband to shield him when she saw them coming whilst Zurumi charged the soldiers with his ceremonoal sword drawn but to no avail. All three of them were killed instantly by Nzeogwu's bullets.

This was after he had shot Sergeant Daramola Oyegoke, one of his own men, who had refused to shoot Sardauna.

The second woman in the picture is Mrs. Lateefat Ademulugen. She was the wife of Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun, Commander of the 1st Division of the Nigerian Army, based in Kaduna.

In the early hours of the morning of January 15th 1966, during the execution of Nigeria's first coup, a group of young soldiers stormed their home and burst into their bedroom which they shared with their two children, Solape and Adegoke.

They were led by Major Timothy Onwuatuegwu, an officer of the Military Training College in Kaduna, who was not only under the direct command of Ademulegun but was also like a son to him & a close family friend who often visited his home.

As they proceeded to shoot Ademulegun, Lateefat, who was 8 months pregnant at the time, pleaded with the young officers to spare her husband & attempted to shield him from them with her body.

Her pleas & that of her children fell on deaf ears as Onwuatuegwu shot both Ademulegun & his wife right in front of their children.

These two women, one from the North & the other the South West, chose to die with their husbands in a florry of bullets rather than live without them.

Such was their love, loyalty, courage & commitment.

They were a pride to womanhood & to Nigeria.

(FFK)How

7 Likes

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by owobokiri(m): 7:57pm On Jan 16

Lol
Are you guys not tired of this worn out tactics of milking the dry tities of igbophobia to their very last drop?? "Nigerias first coup"?
Do you guys think you can always recycle these nebulous stories and use them to frighten the rest if the country just to stay in power for ever?

How many topics now? Everyday it is one story or the other about "Nigerias first coup". If it is not about the fowls killed during Nigerias first coup, it is about the 3 crabs that were squashed during "Nigerias first coup"! What next? Another headline about the 3 goats that were slaughtered on the night of Nigerias first coup?

Ahbegii...
To start with, the January 15th coup was not Nigerias first coup". Away with the revisionism. Nigerias first ever coup plot happened in 1963 and was led by one power hungry upstart named Obafemi Awolowo.. He was dutifully arrested, tried and jailed in 1964 for that.

8 Likes 2 Shares

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by Ttalk: 8:01pm On Jan 16

What a touching story. The memory of the department will not be forgotten

7 Likes

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by Ttalk: 8:05pm On Jan 16

owobokiri:
Lol
Are you guys not tired of this worn out tactics of milking the dry tities of igbophobia to their very last drop?? "Nigerias first coup"?
Do you guys think you can always recycle these nebulous stories and use them to frighten the rest if the country just to stay in power for ever?

How many topics now? Everyday it is one story or the other about "Nigerias first coup". If it is not about the fowls killed during Nigerias first coup, it is about the 3 crabs that were squashed during "Nigerias first coup"! What next? Another headline about the 3 goats that were slaughtered on the night of Nigerias first coup?

Ahbegii...
To start with, the January 15th coup was not Nigerias first coup". Away with the revisionism. Nigerias first ever coup plot happened in 1963 and was led by one power hungry upstart named Obafemi Awolowo.. He was dutifully arrested, tried and jailed in 1964 for that.

Oga rest, this week is remembrance week to honour our lost heros who died in the hand of happy triggered young military officers majorly from the SE.

History is a scar. It will always be reference every year

8 Likes

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by Ttalk: 8:07pm On Jan 16

owobokiri:
Lol
Are you guys not tired of this worn out tactics of milking the dry tities of igbophobia to their very last drop?? "Nigerias first coup"?
Do you guys think you can always recycle these nebulous stories and use them to frighten the rest if the country just to stay in power for ever?

How many topics now? Everyday it is one story or the other about "Nigerias first coup". If it is not about the fowls killed during Nigerias first coup, it is about the 3 crabs that were squashed during "Nigerias first coup"! What next? Another headline about the 3 goats that were slaughtered on the night of Nigerias first coup?

Ahbegii...
To start with, the January 15th coup was not Nigerias first coup". Away with the revisionism. Nigerias first ever coup plot happened in 1963 and was led by one power hungry upstart named Obafemi Awolowo.. He was dutifully arrested, tried and jailed in 1964 for that.

Civilian they lead and plan coup from where you come from?

This is surprising

4 Likes

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by AJSfan: 8:08pm On Jan 16

Every pre-election year we suddenly start to see historians

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by muyico(m): 8:19pm On Jan 16

many Innocent souls perished
They re blood is calling for justice

4 Likes

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by Pierocash(m): 8:19pm On Jan 16

Ttalk:
Civilian they lead and plan coup from where you come from?

This is surprising

Yes , civilians are actually the ones who plan coups, only executed by the military.

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by Ttalk: 8:25pm On Jan 16

Pierocash:
Yes , civilians are actually the ones who plan coups, only executed by the military.

I don't have time for UpperIweka gist, so swerve

3 Likes

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by food4tot: 8:35pm On Jan 16

During the coup, many junior officers and enlisted soldiers genuinely did not know they were participating in a coup. They assumed it was a routine military or security operation. Most subordinates were told only what they needed to execute a task, nothing more.

As events unfolded, many soldiers became confused, realizing too late that senior officers had been killed and that the government had collapsed.

It was only after the dust settled that many of those subordinates understood.

3 Likes

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by tesseract: 8:59pm On Jan 16

All this attempt to vilify the ibos is cliche. You guys should stop already.

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by Ofodirinwa: 9:02pm On Jan 16

Something Fulani herdsmen do every Friday.
RIP Cpt Nzeogwu

1 Like

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by owobokiri(m): 9:24pm On Jan 16

Ttalk:
Civilian they lead and plan coup from where you come from?

This is surprising

Guy, leave me alone..
History is History..
Your man was arrested, tried right there in lagos by a Yoruba judge and appropriately sentenced. He was serving at Calabar prisons before the war broke out.
That is the History.
No be me write am.

2 Likes

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by owobokiri(m): 9:30pm On Jan 16

Ttalk:
Oga rest, this week is remembrance week to honour our lost heros who died in the hand of happy triggered young military officers majorly from the SE.

History is a scar. It will always be reference every year

My problem with those officers is that they did not do enough..
Look at what Nigeria became in the hands of your uncles who survived Nzeogwu.
He didn't "do" enough.. That's the main problem..

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by danijesus(m): 9:42pm On Jan 16

owobokiri:
My problem with those officers is that they did not do enough..
Look at what Nigeria became in the hands of your uncles who survived Nzeogwu.
He didn't "do" enough.. That's the main problem..

very wicked response cheesy

1 Like

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by owobokiri(m): 9:45pm On Jan 16

danijesus:
very wicked response

Ah no dey hear word..

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by Pierocash(m): 9:57pm On Jan 16

Ttalk:
I don't have time for UpperIweka gist, so swerve

wetin small pikin know. Learn they won't learn.

Who has time educating a toddler

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by Flangelo12: 11:04pm On Jan 16

AJSfan:
Every pre-election year we suddenly start to see historians

When would be a convenient time for you?

1 Like

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by T9ksy(m): 11:52pm On Jan 16

Ofodirinwa:
Something Fulani herdsmen do every Friday.
RIP Cpt Nzeogwu

Fa fa fa fowl

Major Nzeogwu had murdered peace and as such he can never R.I.P

1 Like

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by T9ksy(m): 11:57pm On Jan 16

Pierocash:
Yes , civilians are actually the ones who plan coups, only executed by the military.

How many soldiers were imprisoned in the "Awo coup"?

1 Like

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by T9ksy(m): 12:05am On Jan 17

owobokiri:
My problem with those officers is that they did not do enough..
Look at what Nigeria became in the hands of your uncles who survived Nzeogwu.
He didn't "do" enough.. That's the main problem..

Your uncle, Ironsi too suppisedly survived Nzeogwu's coup and we all saw what Nigeria became in his hand......decree 34

2 Likes

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by Segun198019: 12:18am On Jan 17

**This story is emotionally powerful — but historically inaccurate and deliberately misleading.**

Let’s correct the record.

### 1. **Hajia Hafsat Bello was NOT killed by Nzeogwu**

* Sir Ahmadu Bello **was killed** during the January 15, 1966 coup.
* **His wife, Hajia Hafsat Bello, was NOT killed that night.**
* No credible historical record confirms that she “threw herself over her husband and was shot.”
* This claim does **not appear in official military records, judicial panels, or reputable historical works** on the coup.

This part of the story is **fabricated** to heighten emotional outrage.

---

### 2. **Nzeogwu did NOT personally kill Sir Ahmadu Bello**

* Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu **did not personally fire the shots** that killed the Sardauna.
* The attack on the residence was carried out by soldiers under his command.
* Multiple historical sources confirm that Nzeogwu **was not present inside the bedroom** at the time of the killing.

Portraying him as personally executing the Sardauna is **historically false**.

---

### 3. **The “son-like relationship” narrative is exaggerated**

* Claims that Nzeogwu was “treated like a son” by the Sardauna and his wife are **political myth-making**, not established fact.
* Nzeogwu was a professional officer, not a family dependent.
* Sending Sallah food to officers was **customary hospitality**, not proof of a personal bond.

Hospitality ≠ familial relationship.

---

### 4. **The Ademulegun tragedy is real — but distorted**

* Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun **and his wife were killed**, and this was a tragic and criminal act.
* However:

* The event is being selectively framed to push an **ethnic and moral absolutist narrative**.
* No mention is made of:

* The killings of senior Igbo officers the same night
* The pogroms against Igbo civilians that followed
* The retaliatory coups and massacres

This is **selective mourning**, not honest history.

---

### 5. **The coup was NOT about personal betrayal**

* The January 1966 coup was:

* Politically motivated
* Directed against a corrupt post-independence elite
* Poorly executed and chaotic
* It was **not a revenge mission against benefactors or families**.
* Reducing it to “evil sons killing kind fathers” is **dangerous simplification**.

---

### 6. **This narrative is propaganda, not remembrance**

The post:

* Uses women and children to **sanctify one side**
* Erases other victims
* Assigns collective guilt
* Encourages ethnic resentment

That is **not history** — it is **memory weaponization**.

---

### 7. **Honest conclusion**

* The killings were **wrong and unjustifiable**.
* But **lying about who died, who pulled triggers, and relationships that didn’t exist** dishonors real victims.
* Nigeria’s tragedy deepened because **truth was abandoned for emotion** — and repeating these myths keeps that wound open.

**History deserves accuracy, not embellishment.**

Arafat2022:
The first woman in the pictures is Hajia Hafsat Bello. She was the wife of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto & Premier of the Northern Region.

She took care of many as the wife of the Premier including one Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu who headed the Officers Training College in Kaduna. Nzeogwu was treated like a son by Sardauna.

Hafsat often sent food on special occasions like Sallah to Nzeogwu & his officers. They made them feel at home in Kaduna & took care of them.

Despite that in the early hours of the morning of January 15th 1966, during the execution of Nigeria's first military coup, Nzeogwu went to Sardauna's home & not only killed him but killed Hafsat & Zurumi, the Premier's traditional bodyguard, as well.

Hafsat threw her body on her husband to shield him when she saw them coming whilst Zurumi charged the soldiers with his ceremonoal sword drawn but to no avail. All three of them were killed instantly by Nzeogwu's bullets.

This was after he had shot Sergeant Daramola Oyegoke, one of his own men, who had refused to shoot Sardauna.

The second woman in the picture is Mrs. Lateefat Ademulugen. She was the wife of Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun, Commander of the 1st Division of the Nigerian Army, based in Kaduna.

In the early hours of the morning of January 15th 1966, during the execution of Nigeria's first coup, a group of young soldiers stormed their home and burst into their bedroom which they shared with their two children, Solape and Adegoke.

They were led by Major Timothy Onwuatuegwu, an officer of the Military Training College in Kaduna, who was not only under the direct command of Ademulegun but was also like a son to him & a close family friend who often visited his home.

As they proceeded to shoot Ademulegun, Lateefat, who was 8 months pregnant at the time, pleaded with the young officers to spare her husband & attempted to shield him from them with her body.

Her pleas & that of her children fell on deaf ears as Onwuatuegwu shot both Ademulegun & his wife right in front of their children.

These two women, one from the North & the other the South West, chose to die with their husbands in a florry of bullets rather than live without them.

Such was their love, loyalty, courage & commitment.

They were a pride to womanhood & to Nigeria.

(FFK)How

1 Like

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by PulaPower: 2:36am On Jan 17

owobokiri:
My problem with those officers is that they did not do enough..
Look at what Nigeria became in the hands of your uncles who survived Nzeogwu.
He didn't "do" enough.. That's the main problem..

He didn’t do enough by not killing Ironsi..

But I love the fact that Ironsi didn’t end well. He was killed like a church rat 😁

1 Like

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by Ozinlex: 3:28am On Jan 17

Nonsense and ingredients, what about the first 8 sons that were killed? Na a year or so to election una dey come with same story which is dead on arrival.

Nigeria is bleeding seriously and some people in power murdered NIGERIA and the TASK that must be done by all patriotic Nigerians will be to remove them come 2027!

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by franchasng: 3:35am On Jan 17

Dear Southwest people, una no de tire?

We are expecting more of this type of topic targeted at tarnishing Igbo image and possibly causing Northerners to get upset with Igbos as the 2027 Presidential election draws closer.

That has been you guys only political tactics since the end of the civil war but you guys ought to know that nothing stays forever; everything in life has an expiry date, always have this in mind in whatever you do in life.

The time is almost up, stop all these ethnic incitement against the Igbos and play healthy politics of telling Nigerians how Tinubu transformed Nigeria since 2023 and how he intends to make Nigerian people's lives better if he wins reelection in 2027. Enough of painting Igbos black, focus on marketing your brother Tinubu and promoting his good works if there is any, stop gaslighting Northerners to join you in your unjust disdain for the Southeasterners.

Stop heating up Nigeria with nepotism and ethnic division, you guys are setting a very dangerous record, future is bigger than present, you guys should have a rethink and allow Nigerians to manage the fragile unity it has currently

1 Like

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by franchasng: 3:40am On Jan 17

Ttalk:
Civilian they lead and plan coup from where you come from?

This is surprising

Have you ever researched why Awolowo was arrested, tried, found guilty and jailed?

Make out time and research about that.

In most military coups, there is always a powerful civilian figure.

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by PulaPower: 4:01am On Jan 17

Ozinlex:
Nonsense and ingredients, what about the first 8 sons that were killed? Na a year or so to election una dey come with same story which is dead on arrival.

Nigeria is bleeding seriously and some people in power murdered NIGERIA and the TASK that must be done by all patriotic Nigerians will be to remove them come 2027!

What’s about the first 8 sons? Tell us more about them.

Nigeria is bleeding keh? I just left the club about 1 hour ago and didn’t see any bleed on the road while coming home... Or, Do you live in Okija-Shr!ne ?

1 Like

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by PulaPower: 4:03am On Jan 17

franchasng:
Dear Southwest people, una no de tire?

We are expecting more of this type of topic targeted at tarnishing Igbo image and possibly causing Northerners to get upset with Igbos as the 2027 Presidential election draws closer.

That has been you guys only political tactics since the end of the civil war but you guys ought to know that nothing stays forever; everything in life has an expiry date, always have this in mind in whatever you do in life.

The time is almost up, stop all these ethnic incitement against the Igbos and play healthy politics of telling Nigerians how Tinubu transformed Nigeria since 2023 and how he intends to make Nigerian people's lives better if he wins reelection in 2027. Enough of painting Igbos black, focus on marketing your brother Tinubu and promoting his good works if there is any, stop gaslighting Northerners to join you in your unjust disdain for the Southeasterners.

Stop heating up Nigeria with nepotism and ethnic division, you guys are setting a very dangerous record, future is bigger than present, you guys should have a rethink and allow Nigerians to manage the fragile unity it has currently

Gibberish..

As if the north needs to read nairaland to remember how you guys greedily unalive there leader’s..

We’ll always talk about Nigeria history right from the creation. Your fore-fathers were super greedy and despite everything, they all labored in vain. None of them did anything tangible for the Ibos aside from stealing money..

Your fore-father carried out a coup and after the coup, they immediately destroyed our regionalism, with the believe that it will be sweet to control the whole country from the center. Unfortunately for them, life happened to them, the North grabbed power again and discovered it’s indeed sweet to be controlling Nigeria from the center... The rest is history..

It’s one of the reasons why I don’t usually blame the north for Nigeria’s problem. South created most of Naija problem, most especially, SE..

2 Likes

Re: How Two Women Were Killed During Nigerian's First Coup by Ozinlex: 6:25am On Jan 17

PulaPower:
What’s about the first 8 sons? Tell us more about them.

Nigeria is bleeding keh? I just left the club about 1 hour ago and didn’t see any bleed on the road while coming home... Or, Do you live in Okija-Shr!ne ?

...rubbish!

1 2 Reply

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