The 1966 Coup: Facts Over Fiction
Challenging the ANIOMA Coup Narrative
HISTORICAL revisionism has, at times, painted the 1966 coup as a project spearheaded by Delta North (ANIOMA) officers. Research reveals this is inaccurate and oversimplified. The coup was executed by a coalition of officers with varied ethnic backgrounds, primarily Igbo, but also Yoruba and others.
Who Was Involved?
-
Arinze Ifeajuna (Igbo): Orchestrated Southern operations, notably in Lagos.
-
Major Kaduna Nzeogwu (Oshimili): Led Northern operations; his loyalty was to national reform, not Delta North.
-
Other Officers: Donatus Okafor, Humphrey Chukwuka, Chris Anuforo—all Igbo; Adewale Ademoyega, Yoruba.
Historical accounts, including statements from Odumegwu Ojukwu, corroborate the Igbo-centric leadership but disprove any Delta North monopoly over the coup.
The Nzeogwu Misconception
Assertions that Nzeogwu was IKA are incorrect. Okpanam in Oshimili, his birthplace, is ethnically distinct from IKA. Furthermore, Nzeogwu’s upbringing and military career in the North shaped his outlook. He identified with Nigerian unity, not ethnic interests.
Political Motives Behind the Lies
The perpetuation of falsehoods serves specific political aims:
-
Shifting blame to Delta North (ANIOMA) for historical events.
-
Pressuring the community into alignment with Igbo-led geopolitical narratives.
-
Marginalizing Delta North in national discourse by portraying it as a contentious group.
Final Analysis
Research clearly shows that the 1966 coup was multi-ethnic in execution, Igbo-led in strategy, and nationalistic in intent. Delta North’s implication is historically unsound and politically motivated.
