Excepts from the report of the Police Special Branch Report on “Military
Rebellion of 15th January 1966”
LAGOS AREA- 26. The execution of the plan commenced by the calling of a meeting late on 14 January 66 of the Lagos members of the inner circle and, for the first time, of junior officers previously selected to take an active part.

A number of those present had attended a cocktail party that very evening in the house of Brigadier Mai-Malari in Ikoyi. The following attended this meeting which was held in the Apapa House of Major Ifeajuna:

Major C.K Nzeogwu..."One of the three commanders nominated for the execution of the plan"

a. Major E.A. Ifeajuna
b. Major G. Anuforo
c. Major D. Okafor
d. Major A Ademoyega

e. Major IH Chukwuka
f. Captain O. Oji
g. Captain GS Adeleke
h. Lt. G. Ezedigbo
i. Lt. BO Oyewole
j. 2/Lt. ES Nweke

k. 2/Lt. BO Ikejiofor
l. 2/Lt. NS Wokocha

27. Major Ifeajuna addressed the meeting on the subject of the deteriorating situation in Western Nigeria to which, he contended, the politicians had failed to find a solution. He added that as a result the entire country was heading toward chaos and disaster.

He next acquainted the junior officers with the inner circle’s plans and asked them if they were prepared to assist to put an end to this state of affairs. Major Ifeajuna claimed that all present pledged their support for his plans with the exception of Captain Adeleke who was, however, later persuaded to join.

It was made clear to these junior officers that those who were not with the conspirators would be regarded as being opposed to them and might suffer death as a consequence.

28. When, at the end of the meeting, it was clear that all present were in support of the rebellion, tasks and targets were issued as follows:
a. Abduction of the Prime Minister and the Federal Finance Minister: Major Ifeajuna, 2/Lt. B. Oyewole, 2/Lt. Ezedigbo

b. Killing of Colonel Mohammed and Lt. Col. Unegbe: Major CI Anuforo, 2/Lt C. Ngwuluka

c. Killing of Brigadier Mai-Malari: Major D. Okafor, Capt. O. Oji, 2/Lt. C. Igweze
d. Killing of Lt. Col. Pam: Major IH Chukuka, 2/Lt. G. Onyefuru

e. Occupation of the Control Room of FT Police HQ Lion Building: 2/Lt. NS Wokocha
f. Occupation of P%T Telephone Exchange: Lt. PM Okocha; 2/Lt. CC Anyafulu
g. Occupation of N.E.T. Building: 2/Lt. DS Nweke

But there were apparent last minute change of the plans as will be shown later in this paper.

29. Troops selected for these various tasks were to be drawn from the following units (all stationed or accommodated at Apapa and Dodan barracks, Ikoyi):

a. No. 1 Signal Squadron
b. Camp – HQ 2 Brigade NA
c. Lagos Garrison Organisation
d. The Federal Guard Unit

30. The Federal Guard Officers Mess at Ikoyi was named as the rallying point for all teams on completion of their tasks.

31. All other officers and other ranks to be involved, either consciously or unconsciously in the operations were called out for alleged Internal Security operations between midnight and 0100 hours to allow time for the issue of arms and ammunition and the provision of the necessary transport.

With the exception of other ranks of the Federal Guard, they were all ordered to report to Headquarters of No. 2 Brigade NA in battle order, with their arms. Ammunition was issued to them by Lt. Okaka, assisted by Major Ifeajuna, RSM Ogbu of Camp 2 Bde and others.

32. Officers and men moved off to their various assignments at around 0200 hours as planned.

ABDUCTION AND ASSASSINATION OF SIR ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA
33. The party charged with the abduction of the Prime Minister (PM) left HQ 2 Bde at approximately 0200 hours. The following have been identified as members of that group:

OFFICERS
a. Major E.A. Ifeajuna (in command)
b. 2/Lt. G. Ezedigbo (Federal Guard Unit)
c. 2/Lt. Oyewole (2 Brigade Transport Company)

NO.1 SIGNAL SQUADRON
NA 84254 Cpl. C. Madumelu
NA 18149591  – L/Cpl. O. Achi
NA 18159447 S/Sgt. A. Ogbogara
NA 18150401 Sgt. L. Onyia
NA 500147 Sgt. BS Odunze
NA 18150392 Sgt. F Impete

NA 18150400 Sgt. I Ndukaife
NA 1856 Sgmn. S. Onwuli
NA 18149817 Cpl. P. Okoh
NA 18149084 Cpl. U Eduok
NA 18150345 Cpl. Z. Chukwu
NA 18150206 L1Cpl FI Okonkwo
NA 3775 Sgmn FN Chukwu
NA 18150443 L/Cpl RC Amadi
NA 18159121 WO II J. Onyeacha

CAMP – HQ 2 BRIGADE NA
NA 3339 Pte NA Evulobi
NA 18150137 L/Cpl S. Kanu
NA 502724 WO II L. Okoye
NA 124643 WO I (RSM) Ogbu

ARMY HEADQUARTERS (LGO)
NA 504299 Sgt. J. Nwakpura
NA 503865 Sgt. B. Iberesi
NA 149820 Sgt. E. Okonkwo

NOTE: The above named were not all, of necessity, directly involved in the abduction of the PM. A number of them operated on the premises of the Federal Finance Minister, adjacent to the residence of the Prime Minister

34. The small convoy reached the Onikan roundabout at approximately 0230 hours and halted near the PM’s residence. Major Ifeajuna ordered all troops to leave their vehicles and divided them into three groups with targets as shown:

PRIME MINISTER
Major E.A. Ifeajuna – in command
Sgt. B. Iberesi
Sgt. J. Nwakpura
Sgt. BS. Odunze
Cpl P. Okoh
Cpl. C.Madumelu
Sgmn FN Chukwu
Sgmn S. Onwuli

FEDERAL FINANCE MINISTER
2/Lt. G. Ezedigbo – in command
WO I (RSM) J. Ogbu
L/Cpl. FI. Okonkwo
Cpl. Z. Chukwu
Cpl. U Eduok
Sgt. F Impete
S/Sgt. A. Ogbogara
Sgt. I. Ndukaife

WO II L. Okoye

ON GUARD OVER VEHICLES AND APPROACH ROADS
WO II J. Onyeacha – in command
L/Cpl. RC Amadi
Pte. NA Evulobi
L/Cpl. S. Kanu
Sgt. E. Okonkwo

35. The latter group was given the task of stopping and turning back all vehicles approaching Onikan road. There is no record concerning their instructions as to what action they were to take in the event of any of the drivers refusing to obey the order to turn back.

36. The Major knocked on the gate and was answered by a policeman who was on guard inside. The Major identified himself as an Army Officer whereupon the PC (Police Constable) granted them access. The Major asked the PC how many men were on guard with him and was told that there were six. The Major then ordered the PC to show where they could be found.

The PC agreed whereupon the Major seized his rifle and passed it to one of his men. The PC then led the group to round up the remaining members of the Police guard. At the back of the house, i.e. at the creek side, they found a PC armed with a rifle and accompanied by a Police dog.

The Major ordered the PC to surrender his rifle, which he refused to do. He was then hit in the face by Sgt. Odunze whereupon he capitulated and surrendered his firearm.

Major Ifeajuna ordered Sgt Odunze and Cpl. Okoh to stand guard over the PC and his dog with orders to shoot both if they made an attempt to abscond or raise the alarm. All the other members were disarmed and taken to the main gate where they remained guarded by Sgt Iberesi and 2 others.

They were all informed that they would be shot if they attempted to escape or raise the alarm.
37. Major Ifeajuna and few of his men then approached the back entrance to the

Prime Minister’s residence having secured the police orderly, and the stewards under arrest, and broke into the lounge and thence to the Prime Minister’s bedroom. A voice from the inside asked who was there.

The Major replied by kicking the door open, entering the room and pointing his gun at the Prime Minister and thereafter led out the PM wearing a white robe with white trousers and slippers. The PM was then led away by Major Ifeajuna along Awolowo Road where Ifeajuna had parked his car adjacent to the Onikan swimming pool.