March 1976.

Footage of a press conference at which Brigadier Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, the Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters of the Federal Military Government (FMG)of Nigeria, explained the gvernment narrative of how the abortive coup of February 13 1976 was concieved.

The coup, which claimed the life of the previous Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, was led by Lt. Colonel Bukar Suwa (often misspelled "Suka") Dimka.

According to Dimka's confession, he was invited to London for a few days while on an official trip to Madrid, where he held talks with the exiled former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon.

Yar'Adua further mentioned that the FMG had begun efforts to have General Gowon questioned about the coup. However, an official request for Gowon's extradition was refused by the British government.

Lt. Colonel Dimka was executed by firing squad in May 1976. Yar'Adua, who attained the rank of Major General, retired from the army in 1979 after the handover of power to a civilian administration. He remained active in business and politics until his arrest and imprisonment in the 1990s on suspicion of conspiring to overthrow the military regime led by General Sani Abacha.

Yar'Adua died while he was in detention.

Source of Footage: Film dot Ru.

NB.

"Soon after 8 o'clock, the Head of State drove out of his house on his way to Dodan Barracks. (Lt. Col. B.S.) Dimka and his co-assassins pursued the car of the Head of State. When the Head of State's car was near the petrol station, there was a go-slow and (Lt.) William Seri opened fire on the Head of State. Dimka shouted at (Major I.B.) Rabo to fire at the ADC (Lt. Akintunde Akinsehinwa) which he did." - Excerpt of the text of a statement made to the press by Brigadier Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters after the first batch of executions of those convicted of involvement in the February 13th Coup.

свернуть