₦airaland Forum

Why was Ibrahim Taiwo the only governor killed along with him out of the 19 governors

ogaemma:
The case is still on.

Is a genocide case, I don't know how far they have gone in the world court.

Why are you using THEY?

Are you not a concerned party to the genocide allegations?

Do you think the lukewarm attitude towards the issue is because the leadership of the victims are more interested in business and money from the federal government than in pursuing long term restitution for their genocide grievances

We don't celebrate Genocidists where I come from..

If e reach your turn, celebrate Hitler, Pol pot or Lucifer himself wey be their father..

E nor concern me..

naptu2:
Nigerians don't know their history and are easily swayed by propaganda. Murtala was not even in Asaba when the alleged massacre happened.

The 2nd infantry division that carried out the massacre was under murtala's command. Taiwo Ibrahim was his second in command. Did murtala reprimand him? No.

The assasinators will always find a traitor to kill anyone that means well for the country and his people

May his soul continue to rest in peace.

naptu2:
My post from June 1st, 2025

I've posted all these before, but I want to put everything in one post.

What did Murtala Muhammed do?

Initially, during the First Republic, there wasn't much security around the president and prime minister. Then Tafawa Balewa was killed and it changed everything. There was overwhelming security around Ironsi and Gowon.

Murtala Muhammed changed all of that.

1) He did not move into Dodan Barracks. He continued to live in the official residence of the minister of communications (he was minister of communications in Gowon's government). The house was on 2nd Avenue in Ikoyi.

2) There was no electricity generator in that house. He suffered power outages just like everybody else. Obasanjo and Danjuma had to put a lot of pressure on him to buy a generator, because they thought that it was a security risk.


3) He went to Sandgrouse Market in disguise, in order to find out the prices of things and see how it affected the masses.


4) During the Gowon era, the head of state, first lady and chief of staff (military vice president) often rode in stretch limousines. Murtala stopped the practice. Only the head of state used a stretch limousine.

5) No government official was allowed to use sirens or motorcades. The head of state did not use any sirens or motorcades. He waited in traffic like everyone else.

Murtala Muhammed was killed when his limousine was waiting for traffic at the junction of Bank Road and Ikoyi Road. The assassins opened fire on his limousine and left. His ADC opened the door to return fire and the assassins returned and shot at the limousine again.

There were only 4 people in the car, the driver and orderly in front and the ADC and Murtala at the back. Only the orderly survived (because the driver fell on him when he was shot).

That's why students unions rioted when he was killed.

The Obasanjo Administration resumed the practice of having motorcades and guards for senior government officials.

Photo 1) Murtala Muhammad.

Photo 2) Murtala's limousine.

Photo 3) Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa (Murtala's ADC).

Photo 4) Sukar Bukar Dimka before he was executed.

Rybnyk:
The 2nd infantry division that carried out the massacre was under murtala's command. Taiwo Ibrahim was his second in command. Did murtala reprimand him? No.

So that means that Murtala Muhammed was there or that he ordered the Asaba Massacre.

As I said, I don't take you trolls seriously. Everything is agenda to you, even when it is obvious that it makes no sense.

JuanDeDios:
The number one problem with military rule is the counter coups. Real coups. Fake coups. Killing themselves in the barracks. Sometimes the best officers are rounded up and wasted - because coup.

Those who think coups should be happening in 2026 don't know what they're asking for.

Most of the people that are calling for coups were not alive or were little children during military rule and they have no idea how bad it is.

Worryingly:
His questions are valid. Apart from the ethnic baiting part.

What special thing did Murtala do? What positive policies were he known for? We celebrate just about anyone in this country. Imagine celebrating a coup leader.

His questions are not valid because they were simply meant to derail the thread into nonsense about Tinubu and ethnic groups.

1) Anyone that wants to know what Murtala did can easily find out.

2) Anyone that wants to know how long Murtala ruled for and what was possible can easily find out.

3) Sharing information obviously does not mean "celebrating", but the trolls use that word simply so that they can attack anything that they don't like.

ogaemma:
Nigerians do not know history.
If not the likes of Murtala Mohammed should not be celebrated.
The October 1967 Asaba Massacre was led by this evil dangerous man called Murtala Mohammed.
He was the principal Perpetrator that led the
Nigerian 2nd Division to kill unharmed civilian's that evening which included women, children and aged people.
Other involved are Ibrahim Haruna and Ibrahim Taiwo.

If it was today, This man would be charged for crime's against humanity.

It was his mass purge that gave Northerners the advantage in the civil service till date. Celebrating the official designer of nepotism




"The 1975–1976 Nigeria civil service mass purge, initiated by General Murtala Muhammed, abruptly dismissed over 10,000 public officials for corruption, inefficiency, and old age. Known for the phrase "with immediate effect," this action aimed to reform the bureaucracy but led to significant loss of institutional memory and, later, the politicization of the civil service.
Key Aspects of the Mass Purge
Scale and Impact: Thousands of employees across federal, state, and parastatal levels were removed without benefits, severely undermining morale and productivity.
Intentions: The goal was to eliminate corruption and improve inefficiency within the public service, which was seen as a barrier to development.
Aftermath: The purge has been described as a "terrible systemic trauma" that, while intended to cleanse the system, destroyed the professional, non-partisan nature of the bureaucracy.
Subsequent Reforms: Later, in 2003–2007, further reforms continued to address issues like "ghost workers," with 2011 and 2016 audits discovering tens of thousands of fraudulent names on payrolls.
The 1975 purge remains a landmark event in Nigeria's administrative history, marking a shift towards a more unstable civil service structure"

naptu2:
So that means that Murtala Muhammed was there or that he ordered the Asaba Massacre.

As I said, I don't take you trolls seriously. Everything is agenda to you, even when it is obvious that it makes no sense.

What agenda?lol. If he didn't reprimand his second in command giving a command that led to such an atrocity,it means he was in support. That's the point. Name calling and "agenda conspiracy accusations" will not change this. It's lack of knowledge of history that makes people celebrate such a person (murtala)

Ebubu6:
What is so special about this Murtala that we will not hear word abeg. Very soon Naptu2 will memorize and idolise late Buhari like Buhari was a nelson mandela. Did Murtala bring constant electricity or build world class hospital or even sign world class electricity bill or what exactly. Yoruba people will soon immortalize Tinubu. Nothing we no go hear for Nigeria

Gen z

Rybnyk:
What agenda?lol. If he didn't reprimand his second in command giving a command that led to such an atrocity,it means he was in support. That's the point. Name calling and "agenda conspiracy accusations" will not change this. It's lack of knowledge of history that makes people celebrate such a person (murtala)

The agenda is the idea of forcing something on someone, even though he wasn't respinsible for it, simply because you don't like him.

There were manu soldiers in the chain of command, but people with an agenda blame Murtala even though he was not there and was not involved.

Your statement that he approved is simply a wild guess by someone that was not there.

You cannot force him to be involved no matter the number of times you repeat the lie.

anonimi:
Why are you using THEY?

Are you not a concerned party to the genocide allegations?

Do you think the lukewarm attitude towards the issue is because the leadership of the victims are more interested in business and money from the federal government than in pursuing long term restitution for their genocide grievances

Sincerely speaking I am not from the East or from Asaba.
I am a history enthusiasts.
I follow history and I know of dark and notable event like this.
However with my follow up so far, those championing the case are not giving up.
Remember the Enugu coal Mascara by the British in the 1950's. It was this year the victim's family got justice.

So it will take time .

naptu2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iYVaTEC6zk?si=IeEaMSAUO8NNbTG3


Some people believe that the coup was sponsored by the Americans and the British because Murtala's policies were in conflict with their own policies.

Murtala donated our MiG 17 fighter jets to the Angolans and Mozambicans who felt threatened by South Africa. He then bought MiG 21 jets from the Soviet Union. However, that conflict was a proxy war between the West and the East. The Western Powers (US, UK, etc) supported South Africa and UNITA, while the Eastern Powers (Soviet Union, Cuba, etc) supported Dos Santos.

There was the feeling that Murtala brought Nigeria closer to the Soviet Union.

However, some also felt that the coup was sponsored by General Gowon and that it was a plot to bring him back to power.

Another school of thought is that the coup was a palace coup by members of the regime, who felt that Murtala was not following their agreed script. It was believed that Dimka was just a fall guy.

Lastly, others believe that the coup did not have any western connection and that it was not sponsored by General Gowon. They believe that the coup was simply the brainchild of the arrested coup plotters.

Which school of thought is correct? We may never know.

But I think South Africa got independence in 1990, meaning that they were under direct rule of the British government. So how come General Murtala was supporting Angola and Mozambique (which were together under Portuguese Colonial government) against South Africa which was, as at then, still under the British?

Eye service governor

ogaemma:
Sincerely speaking I am not from the East or from Asaba.
I am a history enthusiasts.
I follow history and I know of dark and notable event like this.

However with my follow up so far, those championing the case are not giving up.
Remember the Enugu coal Mascara by the British in the 1950's. It was this year the victim's family got justice.

So it will take time .

I understand that it will take time to get justice but it should not take time to keep the issue alive for everyone to be fully aware of the pain of the victims.

kernniejay:
But I think South Africa got independence in 1990, meaning that they were under direct rule of the British government. So how come General Murtala was supporting Angola and Mozambique (which were together under Portuguese Colonial government) against South Africa which was, as at then, still under the British?

South Africa did not get its independence in 1990.

South Africa gained self government in 1910 and it became independent in 1934.

However, the minority white population ruled the country and discriminated against the blacks until 1994. One-man-one-vote democracy came in 1994.

Angola and Mozambique gained independence in 1975. However, both countries were in civil wars even before independence.

In both countries there were groups that were supported by most African countries (especially Nigeria), the Soviet Union and Cuba and they were opposed to groups that were supported by the racist government of South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom.

South Africa invaded Angola and Nigeria provided money weapons to the Angolan Government.

naptu2:
Babajide Sanwo-Olu @jidesanwoolu

Source

naptu2 you are very fantastic. Your posts are very educative and meaningful. You have any social media handle I can follow?

naptu2:
They were on Bank Road and got to the junction of Bank Road and Ikoyi Road, but the traffic warden stopped traffic from Bank Road from moving (actually, the traffic warden did not notice their car. There were around 4 or 5 cars between the traffic warden and the limousine)

Thanks for sharing Naptu2.

That traffic warden should have been traced and interviewed by the press by now.

I remember the confusion in my primary school that day.

We had to close and leave for home early.

The memory of the execution of the coup plotters is one that lingered eerily in my very young mind for years.

Just like those from the public execution of armed robbers.

The armed robbery of Boulus Enterprises, arrest, trial and execution of the criminals was one that particularly stuck in my mind. Till today, I recall the names of some of the executed robbers and the pictures from the execution, all I read from Daily Times.

Since then. every time a failed coup was uncovered, these gory scenes played in my mind.

Thank God that public executions had been stopped by the time we had the Orkar and subsequent coups.

To the best of my memory, the failed coup reported last year is the first under a civilian regime.

bcomputer101:
You’re just jumping up and down like a motherless parrot with no sense of direction. How old are you?

I don’t think you understand the darker, more sinister side of Murtala that you’re busy idolizing. Students (including myself) protested his death because assassinations had become dangerously rampant at the time, not because he was some saint or good man.

This is what happens when Indomie generation kids survive on copy-and-paste history without context, depth, or critical thinking.

You should be very careful because you can't rewrite an history older than you.

Open you thread. But for now this is his work

Murtala was not a perfect man, but millions of Nigerians owe our being alive, our freedom, and our independence to him. Had not for him, we would have suffered a fate worse than the Armenians and Kurds under Ataturk, which Prof. Kingsley Moghalu would later confirm in one of his X post he made in 2023. With that counter coup, not only did he stopped the conquest agenda (which is the number 1 reason he is hated by a section of the country), he also ensured to make a statement that, if there's ever a repeat of that 1966 madness, there will be a robust and equal response.

naptu2:
South Africa did not get its independence in 1990.

South Africa gained self government in 1910 and it became independent in 1934.

However, the minority white population ruled the country and discriminated against the blacks until 1994. One-man-one-vote democracy came in 1994.

Angola and Mozambique gained independence in 1975. However, both countries were in civil wars even before independence.

In both countries there were groups that were supported by most African countries (especially Nigeria), the Soviet Union and Cuba and they were opposed to groups that were supported by the racist government of South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom.

South Africa invaded Angola and Nigeria provided money weapons to the Angolan Government.

Thanks for the insight. I have also confirmed from Google and it buttresed your points. I usually look out for your posts in Nairaland because they are always useful.

naptu2:
My post from June 1st, 2025

I've posted all these before, but I want to put everything in one post.

What did Murtala Muhammed do?

Initially, during the First Republic, there wasn't much security around the president and prime minister. Then Tafawa Balewa was killed and it changed everything. There was overwhelming security around Ironsi and Gowon.

Murtala Muhammed changed all of that.

1) He did not move into Dodan Barracks. He continued to live in the official residence of the minister of communications (he was minister of communications in Gowon's government). The house was on 2nd Avenue in Ikoyi.

2) There was no electricity generator in that house. He suffered power outages just like everybody else. Obasanjo and Danjuma had to put a lot of pressure on him to buy a generator, because they thought that it was a security risk.


3) He went to Sandgrouse Market in disguise, in order to find out the prices of things and see how it affected the masses.


4) During the Gowon era, the head of state, first lady and chief of staff (military vice president) often rode in stretch limousines. Murtala stopped the practice. Only the head of state used a stretch limousine.

5) No government official was allowed to use sirens or motorcades. The head of state did not use any sirens or motorcades. He waited in traffic like everyone else.

Murtala Muhammed was killed when his limousine was waiting for traffic at the junction of Bank Road and Ikoyi Road. The assassins opened fire on his limousine and left. His ADC opened the door to return fire and the assassins returned and shot at the limousine again.

There were only 4 people in the car, the driver and orderly in front and the ADC and Murtala at the back. Only the orderly survived (because the driver fell on him when he was shot).

That's why students unions rioted when he was killed.

The Obasanjo Administration resumed the practice of having motorcades and guards for senior government officials.

Photo 1) Murtala Muhammad.

Photo 2) Murtala's limousine.

Photo 3) Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa (Murtala's ADC).

Photo 4) Sukar Bukar Dimka before he was executed.

so because he no use generator, that one na accomplishment? I now know that all Nigerians are going through today didn't just start today. We deserve the leaders we get.

naptu2:
South Africa did not get its independence in 1990.

South Africa gained self government in 1910 and it became independent in 1934.

However, the minority white population ruled the country and discriminated against the blacks until 1994. One-man-one-vote democracy came in 1994.

Angola and Mozambique gained independence in 1975. However, both countries were in civil wars even before independence.

In both countries there were groups that were supported by most African countries (especially Nigeria), the Soviet Union and Cuba and they were opposed to groups that were supported by the racist government of South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom.

South Africa invaded Angola and Nigeria provided money weapons to the Angolan Government.

Africa was the focus of Nigeria's foreign policy under Murtala.

Despite being geographically distant from South Africa, Nigeria was regarded as a key Frontline State who put pressure for the dismantling of Apartheid.

As part of the pressure, Nigeria nationalised British Petroleum (BP) and Shell which were renamed Africa Petroleum (AP) and National Oil respectively.

It was through those activities of Nigeria that I got to know about organisations like SWAPO (Namibia), ANC (SA), Frelimo (Mozambique), ZANU (Rhodesia, later known as Zimbabwe) as well as people like Samora Machel, Sam Nujoma, Robert Mugabe and Nelson Mandela.

Soldiers under him murdered innocent children, women and elderly people in Asaba. It is against the rules of war and no honourable military officer engages in such reprehensible conduct.If he was a professional minded and humane commanding officer,he would have denounced and punished the culprits. Let's choose our heroes wisely

naptu2:
So that means that Murtala Muhammed was there or that he ordered the Asaba Massacre.

As I said, I don't take you trolls seriously. Everything is agenda to you, even when it is obvious that it makes no sense.

Unfortunately, Muhammed died in vain. They all should be ashamed of what they turned Nigeria into. He too was part of what Nigeria has become. I don't know what a military man has to do with government. They are soldiers but decided to destroy Nigeria. Instead of celebrating all of them, they all should be shamed.

When a Nigeriam president with a common sense sits in Aso Rock, all the military leaders will be shamed. They all destroyed Nigeria. Very selfish people. They keep trying to paint him good. He was evil too. If he was good, he would have stayed in his primary assignment which is in the barracks. The barracks wouldn't have become the old Aso Rock.

I dont pity him. Even that OBJ always running his mouth and that Danjuma should be shamed alive. There is nothing good about them.

Ebubu6:
What is so special about this Murtala that we will not hear word abeg. Very soon Naptu2 will memorize and idolise late Buhari like Buhari was a nelson mandela. Did Murtala bring constant electricity or build world class hospital or even sign world class electricity bill or what exactly. Yoruba people will soon immortalize Tinubu. Nothing we no go hear for Nigeria

AS a GenZ I won't blame you cos you can't understand the weight of this your statement on this issue! Thread wisely with your statements. A lot of your age mates are here, because they did not understand the intricacies of the past, they chose to not comment. Learn from them.

naptu2:
I originally posted this on January 4th, 2021

We have often seen what happens when popular leaders are killed. It usually leads to violence and many more people end up dead and property is destroyed.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgmQ-P-cfCY

.

Watching this video, particularly the scene of the then Lagos State military governor, Adekunle Lawal in front of the Shitta Bey mosque on Martins Steet where chants of "Gowon Ole!, Dimka Ole!" can be heard in the background I remember some of the very nasty songs sung about the coup plotters. Some of the songs made references to the coupists' family members.

That impressed greatly upon me such that anytime a failed coup is uncovered, my greatest sympathy go to the families of the coupists.

I was glad that General Christopher Musa, made reference to the military supporting the family members of the alleged coupists in a recent interview he granted on Channels TV.

naptu2:
The agenda is the idea of forcing something on someone, even though he wasn't respinsible for it, simply because you don't like him.

There were manu soldiers in the chain of command, but people with an agenda blame Murtala even though he was not there and was not involved.

Your statement that he approved is simply a wild guess by someone that was not there.

You cannot force him to be involved no matter the number of times you repeat the lie.

Unfortunately he will always be involved as he was the CO of the 2nd infantry division that carried out the massacre. If he didn't approve, Taiwo Ibrahim wouldn't go scot free. If there was a court martial and the 2nd infantry division was going to be reprimanded, murtala,the CO wouldn't be allowed to go scot free,he would have been punished. Calling it a lie is wild. It's a record in Nigerian history ...

Rybnyk:
Unfortunately he will always be involved as he was the CO of the 2nd infantry division that carried out the massacre. If he didn't approve, Taiwo Ibrahim wouldn't go scot free. If there was a court martial and the 2nd infantry division was going to be reprimanded, murtala,the CO wouldn't be allowed to go scot free,he would have been punished. Calling it a lie is wild. It's a record in Nigerian history ...

higgs:
Soldiers under him murdered innocent children, women and elderly people in Asaba. It is against the rules of war and no honourable military officer engages in such reprehensible conduct.If he was a professional minded and humane commanding officer,he would have denounced and punished the culprits. Let's choose our heroes wisely

By now you guys should know that this is just a waste of time. Your arguments will always fall flat because it is built on nothing.

This argument comes from an earlier story that Murtala was present at Asaba and that he did all kinds of things. The argument was debunked and proven to be false because he was not even in Asaba in the first place.

It's simply because of the false story that people keep mentioning Murtala's name. Now let's look at facts.

One of you said that Murtala approved it because he did not reprimand his subordinates.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THATHE DID NOT REPRIMAND HIS SUBORDINATES??

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT HE APPROVED IT??

The answer is that you don't know.

You say that Murtala was their commander.

OK, why is it only Murtala's name that is mentioned??

Joseph Akahan was the chief of army staff, but you don't mention him. Joseph Wey was the second in command, but he is not mentioned. Even people that were actually in Asaba are not mentioned, yet you continuously mention Murtala.

It's a waste of time, you cannot force him to be involved in something that he was not involved in, no matter how many times you repeat the propaganda. It's just not going to work.

Furthermore, these words that you guys come up with will also not work.

There was nowhere that I wrote about hero, achievement or celebration.

Posting words just so you can demolish them is another waste of time. I never used those words.

johnie:
Thanks for sharing Naptu2.

That traffic warden should have been traced and interviewed by the press by now.

I remember the confusion in my primary school that day.

We had to close and leave for home early.

The memory of the execution of the coup plotters is one that lingered eerily in my very young mind for years.

Just like those from the public execution of armed robbers.

The armed robbery of Boulus Enterprises, arrest, trial and execution of the criminals was one that particularly stuck in my mind. Till today, I recall the names of some of the executed robbery and the pictures from the execution, all I read from Daily Times.

Since then. every time a failed coup was uncovered, these gory scenes played in my mind.

Thank God that public executions had been stopped by the time we had the Orkar and subsequent coups.

To the best of my memory, the failed coup reported last year is the first under a civilian regime.

Man! I don't know how to describe this, but those executions both fascinated and spooked me.

They used to be held at Bar Beach, then they were moved to Kirikiri. It was initially still public after it was moved to Kirikiri, but over time they made it private (in the 1980s).

I was fascinated by the way the troops formed up opposite the convicts.

I always wondered what would happen if the marksmen missed. Then I was shocked when I found out.

It also spooked me because the executions were usually shown on the news, which meant that I watched them late at night.