As today marks the 36th anniversary of Major Gideon Orkar’s coup against President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), veteran security reporter and analyst, Mr Folorunsho Atta, has recalled his profound fear and shock upon hearing that Babangida had been killed.
Atta said that, reflecting on the history of Nigerian coups, particularly how IBB managed to survive them, he was deeply disturbed when he heard rumours of Babangida’s death during the coup attempt.
“I’m very sure that, as a young officer, he was involved in the countercoup of 1966. He played a key role in the 1975 Murtala Mohammed coup against Gen. Yakubu Gowon, which led to his membership of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) under Murtala. He also helped foil Col. Dimka’s coup against Murtala, even though Murtala did not survive that attack.
“IBB again played a leading role in the 1983 Buhari coup against Shagari, which earned him the position of Chief of Army Staff (COAS). He later staged his own coup against Buhari in August 1985.
“His ability to survive and drive through all these events, especially knowing him for so long, made me uncomfortable, concerned, and worried about the bad news, which later turned out to be false. I first met him at a private hospital where I worked in Maryland, Lagos, in the early 1980s. From then on, I became his junior friend,” Atta said.
Atta further recalled: “When I heard the news, I left my home in Maryland around 1:00 p.m. and walked to Ikeja Cantonment, where I saw a crowd being prevented from entering. I saw a friend, Captain Mohammed, but I was unable to speak with him. However, I heard from junior ranks that loyalist forces had foiled the coup.
“I also heard that IBB was safe, although his ADC, Lt. Col. U.K. Bello, had been killed. This was confirmed a few minutes later by Gen. Sani Abacha in a special broadcast, where he stated that the plot against the government had been suppressed. That announcement signalled the moment the chaos subsided, and normalcy returned. At that moment, I felt an immense sense of relief.”
Explaining why he was deeply worried by the rumoured news, Atta said that, beyond his personal history with IBB, the death of a relative, friend, or colleague inevitably leaves one deeply unsettled.
“It is only natural to feel distressed upon hearing of the death of a relative or acquaintance,” he said.
