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The Nine Point Plan In October 1970, Gowon announced a six-year nine-point plan, which he said, must be accomplished “before the government of the country can be handed over with a full sense of responsibility”. The points were as follows: Reorganization of the Armed Forces. Implementation of the National Development Plan and reconstruction of wartime …

Military Rebellion of July 29, 1975: The Coup Against Gowon – Part 3 Read More »

The Coup Against Gowon – Part 2 How did General Yakubu Gowon lose grip? To understand how Gowon lost grip in 1975, we must consider many factors.  His pre-military background, personal character, military training and experience, the crisis circumstances under which power was placed in his hands, the dynamic evolving nature of Nigerian society and …

Military Rebellion of July 29, 1975: Read More »

This is an incomplete Police Report on the official investigation into theevents of 15 January 1966, entitled:  “Military rebellion of 15th January1966″.  It was prepared by Police Special Branch Interrogators based oninterviews with soldiers, other ranks and some officers who had beenarrested after the January 15, 1966 mutiny.  None of the soldiers andofficers involved had …

SPECIAL BRANCH REPORT: Military Rebellion of 15th January 1966 Read More »

– Lt. Col. M. O. Nzefili – Part 1 INTRODUCTION Through the medium of a personal biographical account, from time to time, I shall invite officers who are willing and able to give an account of their years in the Nigerian military, particularly during the decolonization transition.  In this way readers may glean insights – …

WITNESSES TO HISTORY Read More »

In response to the questions below: 1. Is General Ogomudia the best officer Nigeria has ever produced since he is the first to attain non- political rank of a full General? 2. Did he fight in the civil war and if  so in what sector and under which command? 3. What is his background and …

Who is General AO Ogomudia, Nigeria’s New Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)? Read More »

MAJOR GENERAL MAMMAN VATSA Major General Mamman Vatsa was born on Dec 3, 1940.  After attending secondary school at the Government Secondary School Bida, Niger State, he joined the Nigerian Army on the December 10, 1962.  Following preparatory training at the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna, he was sent to the Indian Military Academy. General Vatsa attended …

The Vatsa Conspiracy (Part 2) – Some Biosketches Read More »

INTRODUCTION  Thank you for the invitation to present this lecture to and partake in a discussion with participants of National War College Course 13.    This lecture is part of a series of lectures on the development of defence and security policy.   As charged by the Commandant, my specific task is to: “a).       Discuss the global scene and …

The Place Of Armed Forces In The Emerging Regional Scene Read More »

Upon arrival back to Lagos from Minna, Major General Babangida returned to the Flag Staff House, located in a cul de sac on Second Avenue, Ikoyi.  It was at that time the official residence of the Chief of Army Staff.   It was from this location that he made the following broadcast to the Nigerian people: Fellow Nigerians, …

The Palace Coup of August 27, 1985 (PART 3) Read More »

The central point Mr. Bakre disputes is that “the post-colonial Nigerian Army (NA) traces its origins to 1863 when British Naval Lt. Glover established ‘Glover’s Hausas.”  He seems to have a problem with the official Nigerian Armed Forces account of its history. This point, I must say, is very well established in numerous historical accounts of the Nigerian …

Military Ranks: Rejoinder to Mr. Tajudeen Bakre Read More »

RUMORS OF WAR In the months before the August coup, Nigerians came to be familiar with routine announcements about this or that politician sentenced to jail, usually for 21 years, often in concurrent sentences.  But many were released too – although one would not suspect so, given the spate of disinformation that greeted the take-over.  …

The Palace Coup of August 27, 1985  (PART 2) Read More »