HE WAS BORN IN 1918, FOUGHT HITLER’S ALLIES IN THE JUNGLES OF ASIA, AND DIED AT 101. NIGERIA HAS FORGOTTEN HIM.
HE WAS BORN IN 1918, FOUGHT HITLER’S ALLIES IN THE JUNGLES OF ASIA, AND DIED AT 101. NIGERIA HAS FORGOTTEN HIM.
His name was Private Adama Aduku, and his story will humble you.
In 1918, he was born in Abejukolo-Ife, Kogi State. Nigeria was not even a country yet. We were still under British colonial rule, and the First World War had just ended.
Then, in 1942, a British colonial soldier came to his village and harassed and humiliated the village Chief right before his eyes. Young Aduku was furious. That day, he made a vow:
I will wear that uniform, and no one will intimidate my people again.
He trekked to Makurdi and enlisted in the Royal West African Frontier Force.
That one decision threw him into World War II.
Imagine this: a village boy from Kogi suddenly found himself fighting in the thick and deadly jungles of India and Burma, battling malaria, snakes, monsoon rains, and the fierce Japanese Army.
He was among the African soldiers Britain relied on during the war in Asia.
But he did not stop there. He also fought in Egypt and North Africa, serving on two different continents before the age of 30.
He was discharged in Lagos in 1946 and tried his hand at trading around Tinubu Square on Lagos Island. But the soldier in him could not stay quiet.
He re-enlisted in Zaria in 1950 and served until 1957 just three years before Nigeria gained independence.
Then Nigeria seemed to forget him.
Like many World War II veterans, he returned to Kogi and quietly went back to farming.
Until July 7, 2018.
At 100 years old, he stood tall, wearing his old military uniform and proudly displaying his combat medals. The Nigerian Army honoured him during the Army Day Celebration in Lagos.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presented him with an Award of Excellence and the entire hall stood to honour him.
Then, on December 31, 2019, just a few hours before the New Year, Nigeria’s oldest soldier died at the age of 101.
He lived for a century in uniform.
He witnessed colonialism.
He witnessed World War II.
He witnessed Nigeria’s independence.
He witnessed military coups.
He witnessed the return to democracy.
And now, we must ask:
How many of our children in schools today even know his name?
Heroes should never be forgotten.
May the memory of Private Adama Aduku live on. 🇳🇬
