Sheikh Abubakar Gumi on 15 January, 1966 IGBO Coup

"Around 4am on Friday, however, the telephone rang in my house I picked it up. Alhaji Isa kaita, the Minister for Education was on the line; he wanted to let me know, he said, there had been a coup against the government. The Sardauna’s house had been attacked by soldiers and all important official had gone into hiding. He had spoke with major Hassan Katsina who explained that there was a little he could do; he was actually at a meeting with rebels at that time. Alhaji Isa Kaita concluded with the request that I should go to the Sardauna’s house and assessed the situation.

I got ready and said my dawn prayer, later I went out. I found the residence of the premier completely destroyed. It had been shelled and burnt, strings of smoke were still raising into the air from some sections. I looked for certain familiar scenes around but all were now a sorrowful sight. There was destruction everywhere. A few soldiers stood idly with weapons in their hands. All was quiet. I walked into the house silently and found the body of Sardauna lying on the ground the courtyard. He had been shot a number of times.

I arranged for the body to be taken to the house of the Sultan in Kaduna which was a short distance away. His wife, Hafsah, who was killed together with him, was also taken to the Sultan’s house. Details of the incidence soon got round and gradually a little crowd of senior government officials and other sympathisers assembled to prepare the bodies for burial. It was then announced that the Sardauna had requested before he died, that he should be taken to Wurno and buried beside the grave of Sultan Muhammad Bello, his great-grandfather.

But I explained that this wish could not be carried out. The Sardauna was a martyr who had been killed in the cause of the religion. In Islam, martyrs are always buried at the site of their death…..I felt that we should respect that honour in the case of the Sardauna.

With all the preparation completed, we set the body in position for the burial prayers. The early morning sun was fairly high in the sky. I stood in front to lead the prayers while the rest of the people formed neat rows behind me. There are no ceremonies to observe during burials in Islam. The religion emphasizes that the dead should be put into grave with minimum delay after death…..

It was altogether a very solemn and touching occasion. For me, it was the end of an era which I could not possibly forget. I had been lucky to know the Sardauna and help influence a little of his life. Reflections of this day and many others came back to me as I stood over the fresh earth marking the grave after the funeral.

As a Muslim I knew that one died unless his time was due, so I was not bothered about whether the Sardauna could have been saved. I did not mourn his death as something he or anyone else could have helped to avoid. But I grieve for the ignorance and fear that plotted against him and what he represented; the greed and selfishness that killed him; and the prejudice and contempt that sought to disgrace his name after his death.

NIGHTFALL
‘For anyone who worshipped Muhammad,’ Sayyid Abu Bakr, a close companion to the Holy Prophet, had said to the public while announcing the death of the Prophet, ‘Muhammad is dead. But whoever worshipped God let him know that God is alive and does not die.’ I could have spoken to the people in similar vein if I had been responsible for announcing the killing of the Sardauna. But so bloody and horrifying had the events been that early morning that the public did not need further warning about the fate of the Premier.

As I drove back home after the funeral, I passed a long line of people standing solemnly on the streets. Some stood in small groups absorbed in mournful discussions while others sat quietly in front of their houses. No one seemed to know fully what was happening, so that the people’s sorrow was worsened by the fear of the final outcome. The extent of the killings, and what that meant in terms of communication had been cut between various parts of the country and there appear to be total confusion even among the soldiers themselves. I figured that it would be quite a while before the final picture emerged. Meanwhile, I could not really think of what to do other than to continue with my normal routine. I, therefore, got ready and went to my office.

I was in the office late in the morning when military van pulled up in the premises and some soldiers came down. They asked for me and were shown into my office by a staff. They greeted me curtly and explained that they had been sent to invite me for a meeting with the leader of that morning’s coup, Nzeogwu. I was to go in their van, they said, although I could ask someone to follow in my own csr so that he would bring me back after the meeting. I got up and went with them as they requested while my driver drove behind us.

We arrived at the military barracks housing Nzeogwu’s soldiers which had by now turned into a beehive of activity. There were many soldiers on guard, their weapons held firmly in their hand. There were also trucks parked in front of the offices; a few others came in and went out. Except for the noise of the vehicles and occasional exchange among soldiers, all was quiet and business-like. No one spoke to us as we parked and walked into the building. Eventually, I was brought before Nzeogwu and he received me with no ceremony. I sat down on a chair and he slowly began to talk.

First of all, he wanted to know where we had hidden the weapons which we were said to have imported into the country. The question really surprised me and so did the tone in which it was asked. I had not met Nzeogwu before, and had never dealt with him in any capacity whatsoever. I had, therefore, no prior expectations with regard to his personality or the questions he would ask me. Nevertheless, I had imagined that he would show a little concern about the sad events that had taken place earlier in the morning. I did not expect him to apologise for what he had done, because he in no way appeared to be unhappy about the new power and attention which he was receiving as a result of his present position. But I had expected that he would begin by justifying the killings somehow, and offering explanations as to how or why the dead leaders had to lose their lives. After all, no matter his feelings against them, they were statesmen who had once led the country and the people. Human decency and reason demanded that they should be treated with respect for their past services, especially because they had died holding their offices. One did not murder one’s national figures and dismiss the incident casually, whatever their fault. Judicial system.

Besides, I thought it was disappointing that the organizers of the military coup were only now trying to put together the reason for their action. I had never known anyone to have imported weapons into the country illegally, least of all the Sardauna. I therefore felt I had to seek further information from Nzeogwu himself before I could answer him. He explained that he heard we had bought many weapons from the Middle East, which we planned to use to wage Jihad against non-Muslims in Nigeria. That was why he now wanted to know where we kept them, he said.

In my prompt response, I told him about my ignorance in this regard. As far as I was aware, no such plans had ever been considered by any Islamic group in this country. I spoke with authority because I was the closest adviser to the Sardauna on religious matters, and at no time did he visit the Islamic countries in the Middle East without me since I became Grand Khadi. I had never known him to have discussed war in Nigeria, much less purchase weapons.

This prompted Nzeogwu to take me to ask concerning my own appointment. He could not understand, he said, why there had to be a separate court for Muslims outside the country’s judicial system. After all, Muslims were also Nigerians, and must, therefore submit to the law of the land like everyone else. ‘As for Grand Khadi, of what use is he, since there is already the Chief Justice?’ he concluded.

‘Well,’ I answered, ‘Islam is not like Christianity or the other religions you know. In Islam, there are very specific laws in respect of all social matters which must be observed correctly. They include those concerning marriage, divorce, rights to offspring and inheritance. In this regard, only an Islamic court, with a judge versed in the science of the Quran and the Prophet’s traditions, could proper administer justice on a disputing Muslim couple or their inheritors. As for my position, it is only a natural complement to the Area Courts. The appeals that come to me cannot be handled by the Chief Justice because he has no knowledge of Islamic Law.’

With this main subject of the short meeting seemed to have been settled...
It became established that in the midnight attack on the Premier’s residence many others had been killed….During the week the Prime Minister (Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa) was found dead in the outskirts of Lagos…..others killed included Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari, Colnel Kur Muhammad, Lt-Colonel Abogo Largema, Lt-Colonel Yakubu Pam. Similarly, the Premier of the Western Nigeria, the Minister of Finance, the Commander of the 1s t Brigade, Kaduna all lost their lives.

Gradually, more details about the military coup became public and at the same time the real motives of the coup planners began to appear. It was immediately apparent that Igbo Christian officers were the leaders and all the killings followed a set pattern. Only the Muslims and those who were considered as their friends were assassinated. The Prime Minister (a Hausa-Fulani Muslim) was killed, but the President (an Igbo Christian) was skillfully sent out of the country. His farewell words to the Prime Minister, as I heard later, were, ‘I see you on 15 January.’

Pictures of the dead Sardauna against the background of his burning house were immediately put on display, along with those of Nzeogwu giving the heroic account of how he broke into the house and shot him, amidst the wailings of the women and children. These pictures were used by many Igbo leaders and traders and elsewhere in the North to taunt the local people, as evidence that the Sardauna was dead and the North had been defeated. Suddenly, the massacres of the Muslim leaders and politicians was turned into a revolution, with the most glowing tributes being showered on the assassins. In the South in general there outright jubilation in most urban centres, which echoed in their papers. Hardly any newspaper lamented the killings, in fact some saw it as progressive political move. Many editorials were unrepentant, as though the killings were most natural solution to whatever problems the country had.''

- Sheikh Abubakar Gumi with Isma'ila A. Tsiga, 'Where I Stand', (1992). Pg 112, 113, 114, 115,116,117,118.

1st to comment

There was and presenly still agenda to islamise Nigeria.

And we can see that repeating itself even in this present age

AMOTEKUN is here to stay, Northerners should find a new tacties, this news of 1966 coup wont bring fight between Ibo and Yoruba

we can yab and troll each other all day (quite enjoyable) but thats that we dont hate each other

Nzeogwu violated the land by killing Northern and Westers leaders and protecting Eastern leaders, and the North had already had their pound of flesh by having a Southern living in North Massacre spree, with over 50,000 dead, and subsequently a counter coup

What we shouldnt do is mixed this babaric act with religion, At no Point during the Jihad of Mohammad did he kill innocent women and children, he fought only trained military and after victory he sympathises and take care of the family of the dead, unlike what Northerners did.. killing women and kids to retailiate the death of few politicians


.

[s]

itsme01:




AMOTEKUN is here to stay, Northerners should find a new tacties, this news of 1966 coup wont bring fight between Ibo and Yoruba

we can yab and troll each other all day (quite enjoyable) but thats that we dont hate each other

Nzeogwu violated the land by killing Northern and Westers leaders and protecting Eastern leaders, and the North had already had their pound of flesh by having a Southern living in North Massacre spree, with over 50,000 dead, and subsequently a counter coup

What we shouldnt do is mixed this babaric act with religion, At no Point during the Jihad of Mohammad did he kill innocent women and children, he fought only trained military and after victory he sympathises and take care of the family of the dead, unlike what Northerners did.. killing women and kids to retailiate the death of few politicians

.

[/s]

Summary pls

TM

Ibos created this complete tribal mistrust in Nigeria

Killing religious and political leaders of other tribes without killing yours is simply a recipe for disaster that Nigeria is today

itsme01:




AMOTEKUN is here to stay, Northerners should find a new tacties, this news of 1966 coup wont bring fight between Ibo and Yoruba

we can yab and troll each other all day (quite enjoyable) but thats that we dont hate each other

Nzeogwu violated the land by killing Northern and Westers leaders and protecting Eastern leaders, and the North had already had their pound of flesh by having a Southern living in North Massacre spree, with over 50,000 dead, and subsequently a counter coup

What we shouldnt do is mixed this babaric act with religion, At no Point during the Jihad of Mohammad did he kill innocent women and children, he fought only trained military and after victory he sympathises and take care of the family of the dead, unlike what Northerners did.. killing women and kids to retailiate the death of few politicians

.

Heavily on expired drugs.
Unity begging gone wrong.

Nzeogwu is curse to Nigeria I just love the way he was later dealt with!!
You see hatred... E dey run for igboman blood go and see how Igbos are peacefully doing their business in kano... Once they return back to east instead of educating the gullible among them how is it up there... They won't they rather join in insulting and spreading propaganda against the north... They just have a natural hatred towards the north... No mater how good Northerners are too Igbos in the north... The hatred they have for Northerners will remain

This is the same thing happening in Lagos...you can see how many of them will come online insulting the Yorubas from generation to generation!! Now Lagos is no man's land... They claim of commercially conquering Lagos... An igbo man will boldly tell a Yoruba that Lagos is no man's land... Leter them go say Hausa people wan conquer the west...
Like fulani like Igbos... Igbos even worst

Now go to igbo land and see for yourselves... I have visited 4 out of 5 igbo state and I can boldly tell you that kano is better than all the 4 eastern state I have been to combined...
This same people will tell you how backward and poor the north is But Gombe is far better than Enugu and Anambra,They will tell you that Buhari is their problem

In Nigeria, your enemy is not Buhari!". Buhari will leave & una eyes go clear

We need to start calling out the enemies within...

Who is in charge of your local government? Who is your governor? Why are they building their personal mansions while your roads, schools & hospitals are bad? Who is your state assembly rep, your federal rep, your senator? Why are they fighting for their pockets & not your constituencies?

When you sort out the enemies within then we can easily & cohesively address the national issues. You can't keep on doing the same thing for 60 years & expect a different result.

They are now trying to find an agenda against Igbos

I hope the OP is battle ready for IPod ooo

The north is now better...
The hatred they have for us is making us stronger than ever before!

sammyj:
I hope the OP is battle ready for IPod ooo

He's an arewa misfit trying to divert the attention from Amotekun to Igbos

ProWalker:
Ibos created this complete tribal mistrust in Nigeria

Killing religious and political leaders of other tribes without killing your is simply a recipe for disaster that Nigeria is today

The massacre in Kano before the Coup didn't create the mistrust abi?

Arrewa:
After coup!! The north is stronger than ever before...
The south east is still backward and in no way better than other regions... They are economic refugees all over Nigeria!
And don't tell me the north are same... Those Abokis you see in the east are not from northern Nigeria... They are migrant from Niger republic... They speak Hausa and are mostly Muslims so don't deceive yourselves by thinking you are better than us... Northerners in the ease are not up 200 and they are in military, police, custom and into business....while at the other hand Igbos are economic refuge all over Nigeria... As E dey be now sef...them don dey claim Lagos as no man's land...
While the main igbo land remain poor and backward

It better for everyone in my village to have money not depending on one alhaji, than for one to have and any time he comes back We will all line up to get OMO. My guy no be to building mansion in the city but how far the village.
Go to igbo village and see for urself.

Subzero047:


The massacre in Kano before the Coup didn't create the mistrust abi?

Which massacre? Which year and what led to it?

ProWalker:

Which massacre? Which year and what led to it?

Yoruba crowds jeered at Northern politicians in Lagos so they went back and mobilised a riot but targeted Igbos and their properties instead of yorubas

nku5:


[s]Yoruba crowds jeered at Northern politicians in Lagos so they went back and mobilised a riot but targeted Igbos and their properties instead of yorubas[/s]

Senseless comment

ProWalker:



Senseless comment

Get educated. Post less and read more

https://m.guardian.ng/politics/echoes-of-1953-kano-riot/

nku5:

[s]
Get educated. Post less and read more

https://m.guardian.ng/politics/echoes-of-1953-kano-riot/

[/s]


I’m not interest in wasting my data to read your lies. So Hausas can’t differentiate between Ibos and yorubas that will now make them attack Ibos for the perceived provocation by Yorubas ?

Go and find better thing to do with your useless time

And we served them hot pepper
Igbos naturally hate northerners once they killed northern leaders northerners reduce their population by 1/5 it is a demographical gap that they can never fill.

If you look at Nigeria carefully you can see that most of the divisive problem we are facing is caused by the People from the east.
Their stupidity is nulli Secondus can you imagine them displaying gory images of dead Sardauna in a volatile city like Kano and Kaduna?

Northerners massacre them like chicken and follow them down east and completed what they started. That serve them right

u can't plant rice and harvest pepper

Mightymanna:
And we served them hot pepper
Igbos naturally hate northerners once they killed northern leaders northerners reduce their population by 1/5 it is a demographical gap that they can never fill.

If you look at Nigeria carefully you can see that most of the divisive problem we are facing is caused by the People from the east.
Their stupidity is nulli Secondus can you imagine them displaying gory images of dead Sardauna in a volatile city like Kano and Kaduna?

Northerners massacre them like chicken and follow them down east and completed what they started. That serve them right

igbos support amotekun. Eat snipper

ProWalker:
[/s]


I’m not interest in wasting my data to read your lies. So Hausas can’t differentiate between Ibos and yorubas that will now make them attack Ibos for the perceived provocation by Yorubas ?

Go and find better thing to do with your useless time

Smallie read more and stop yapping like a parrot Oya make I spoonfeed you as you no get data.

Imagine. The east was actively celebrating the unprovoked massacre and yet it is the north that is barbaric. Good thing they were taught a very bitter lesson eventually

As far as the north is concern, i must confess to you that we cannot allow any igbo man to hold any reasonable national position.
tainting northerners as tribalistic and religious bigot won't help them to resolve anything, we the northerners have been confirmed for our tolerant towards other parts of the country. there is no better evidence than the statistical value of high percentage of igbo in the northern part.
whereas they cannot even accommodate high number of their christian fellows due to their licentious minds.
we are looking forward to send out this dirty minds out of this our dear country Nigeria.
God bless Nigeria

Okay! should we now uncoup the coup?

itsme01:




AMOTEKUN is here to stay, Northerners should find a new tacties, this news of 1966 coup wont bring fight between Ibo and Yoruba

we can yab and troll each other all day (quite enjoyable) but thats that we dont hate each other

Nzeogwu violated the land by killing Northern and Westers leaders and protecting Eastern leaders, and the North had already had their pound of flesh by having a Southern living in North Massacre spree, with over 50,000 dead, and subsequently a counter coup

What we shouldnt do is mixed this babaric act with religion, At no Point during the Jihad of Mohammad did he kill innocent women and children, he fought only trained military and after victory he sympathises and take care of the family of the dead, unlike what Northerners did.. killing women and kids to retailiate the death of few politicians


.

Nzeogwu did not violate any land. The subsequent coups have proved that the narratives such as BBC, political elites from northern region and media houses and politicians of western region of Nigeria were responsible for blood shade that followed January 15, 1966 coup in Nigeria. The aftermath of the January 15, 1966 coup explained the unity or lack thereof among Nigerians.