On The 1966 Coup; The Lies Against Delta North (ANIOMA), And What My Research Shows

On The 1966 Coup; The Lies Against Delta North (ANIOMA), And What My Research Shows

On The 1966 Coup; The Lies Against Delta North (ANIOMA), And What My Research Shows

Lie One:
That the 1966 coup was an ‘ANIOMA Coup’.

My Research:
The 1966 coup was executed by a group of military officers from different backgrounds, though Igbo officers were the dominant actors and the main beneficiaries.

Key participants included:

• Arinze Ifeajuna: Igbo. Led the Southern operation, especially Lagos, the federal capital at the time.
• Kaduna Nzeogwu: Oshimili. Commanded the Northern operation.
• Adewale Ademoyega: Yoruba
• Donatus Okafor: Igbo
• Humphrey Chukwuka: Igbo
• Chris Anuforo: Igbo

Many sources, including Odumegwu Ojukwu (Igbo) later confirmed Ifeajuna’s leading role in the coup.

Also, after the coup, Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, an Igbo officer became Head of State.

Calling the coup a Delta North (ANIOMA) operation is a false, misleading and dangerous narrative by igbo expansionists.
Igbo officers were the main actors and beneficiaries of the coup.

Nzeogwu commanded the Northern front and cannot be singled out or used to indict Delta North (ANIOMA) people.

Lie Two:
That Nzeogwu is IKA.

My Research:
Okpanam where Nzeogwu is from, is Oshimili, not IKA.
Oshimili and IKA are in present day Delta North, but both are distinct ethnicities.

Lie Three:
That Nzeogwu represented Delta North (ANIOMA) or its interests in the coup.

My Research:
Yes, Major Kaduna Nzeogwu was an Oshimili person, but he never represented Oshimili, or Delta North (ANIOMA) people in the coup.
He actually strongly identified and aligned with the north. He was born there and spent his formative years there.
Former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida even said Nzeogwu “spoke fluent Hausa and was as Hausa as any.”
From all indications, his actions were not ethnic, he seems to have wanted a better Nigeria and didn’t support secession.

Conclusion:
Igbo expansionists are pushing the lies above, because they are attempting to:

• Shift blame for the 1966 coup to Delta North (ANIOMA),
• Emotionally blackmail and indebt Delta North (ANIOMA) people into forced brotherhood,
• Drag Delta North into the South-East geopolitical zone, and
• Portray Delta North as a problem group to Nigeria

Final Word:
The lies against Delta North (ANIOMA) or IKA people will not stand. We have a right to maintain our distinct identity, as well as maintain our good relationship with each and every other ethnic group across the country.