The Murder at Ikoyi Hotel. January 15, 1966. Time: 1:45am

The Murder at Ikoyi Hotel. January 15, 1966. Time: 1:45am

The Murder at Ikoyi Hotel. January 15, 1966. Time: 1:45am

Lt Colonel Abogo Largema was staying at the Ikoyi hotel on the night of the coup. He had just left a big party hosted by Brigadier Maimalari.

As a young soldier, Largema was good at sports. He even represented his school in boxing and athletics.

Even though Largema was not supposed to be at the hotel, Major Ifeajuna went there and forced the desk clerk to tell Largema he had a phone call. When Largema came out of his room in his night clothes, Ifeajuna and Second Lieutenant Ezedigbo jumped out and shot him dead.

They put Largema’s body in their car and drove off to find their next target. Can you guess who it was?

One of the bad things Largema did was turn his army unit into a private army for a politician named Akintola. He even taught Akintola how to shoot a gun. This was called being friends with politicians.

Lt Colonel Abogo Largema was in charge of the 4th Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Ibadan. He was born on November 10, 1933, in Damboa, in the old Borno Province. He went to elementary school in Bama and middle school in Borno. He then attended Kaduna College from 1945 to 1950.

Text from “Oil Politics and Violence; Nigeria’s Military Coup Culture (1966-1976)” by Max Siollun. Source: ASIRI Magazine 2024.