Attempt to Distort History Uncovered on the 58th Anniversary of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day
Political commentator Reno Omokri has uncovered attempts to distort historical facts surrounding the January 15, 1966 coup in Nigeria.
On the 58th anniversary, he exposed a circulating fake list that falsely combined the names of those involved in the January coup with those in the subsequent July 29, 1966 counter-coup, misleading many individuals, including Mike Ozekhome, SAN.
The alleged perpetrators of the January 15, 1966 coup were listed as follows:
Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna – Igbo from Eastern Region.
Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu – Igbo from the Midwest Region.
Major Chris Anuforo – Igbo from Eastern Region.
Major Don Okafor – Igbo from Eastern Region.
Major Adewale Ademoyega – Yoruba from Western Region.
According to Omokri, only Major Adewale Ademoyega did not actively participate in the killings that followed the coup. He emphasized that the list aims to mislead, merging individuals from both coups as if they were part of a single event.
The report continued to provide a list of those killed during the January 15 coup, along with their respective regions:
Sir Ahmadu Bello – Fulani from Northern Region.
Sir Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa – Gere from Northern Region.
Samuel Ladokun Akintola – Yoruba from the Western Region.
Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh – Itsekiri from the Midwest Region.
Hafsatu Bello (wife of Sir Ahmadu Bello) – Fulani from the Northern Region.
Mrs. Latifat Ademulegun (Brigadier Ademulegun’s wife) – Yoruba from the Western Region.
Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun – Yoruba from the Western Region.
Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari – Kanuri from Northern Region.
Colonel Kur Mohammed-Kanuri from Northern Region.
Colonel Ralph Shodeinde – Yoruba from the Western Region.
Lt. Colonel Abogo Largema-Marghi from Northern Region.
Lt. Colonel James Pam – Jo’s native of the Northern Region.
Lt. Colonel Arthur Unegbe – Igbo from Eastern Region (the only Igbo killed).
Sergeant Daramola Oyegoke – Yoruba from the Western Region.
15-21. Various police personnel from different regions.
Omokri emphasized that out of the 21 people killed, only Lt. Colonel Arthur Unegbe was Igbo, and he was targeted due to his role as the QuarterMaster-General in charge of the armoury.
The exposé also highlighted recent threats received by Omokri, including an email from Major Chris Anuforo’s daughter and a direct threat during his jogging routine.
Despite these threats, Omokri remains resolute in his commitment to exposing historical truths and preventing the distortion of facts, according to the statement.
