A journalist, Azuka Jebose, found and interviewed the former officer 24 years after he had masterminded the siege on Dodan Barracks, the base of Federal Military Government of Nigeria. The detailed story published by SaharaReporters reveals more details on Nigeria’s last coup (the Orkar Coup), dated April 22, 1990, which attempted to depose General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, the then president.
Lt Echendu was on the run for about seven years of his life because of the failed coup attempt and the heavy bounty on his head placed by IBB. The man, who was described as “a very brilliant and courageous officer” by a colleague, Capt. Tolofori, does not regret about anything, describes it is a sacrifice for his country.
In April 1990 a group of officers, mainly Army Majors and Lieutenants, initiated an uprising against General Babangida and his administration. The rebels were led by Major Gideon Orkar.
One of the key figures in their plan was Lt Echendu, an Armored Vehicles officer expert at Dodan Barracks. His mission was to implode the base, dislocate all the armored vehicles, and, finally, to secure the perimeter of Dodan Barracks. Upon accomplishing, the infantry would have entered and the president should have been captured and / or executed. The plotters believed in Echendu, as he knew the place perfectly, had clear vision of the logistics and tactical aspects of the environment.
In the first ever confession since his escape from Nigeria, the former Lieutenant speaks about his involvement in the events and why he spared Babangida’s life despite having him on sight.
How did it all start?
“I got involved with the coup thus: The country was being administered the wrong way. There were sufferings and Nigerians were being abused and marginalized by Babangida’s administration. Nigerians were being dehumanized economically and socially. My unit had sent me on a course to Bauchi. Actually, I was not supposed to be in that Course. Lt. Pat Obasi was supposed to attend that course. But when due to other exigencies he was not able to attend, Brigadier General M.Y Ibrahim, current acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) of one of Nigeria’s military divisions was sent from my unit. Both Obasi and M.Y Ibrahim belonged to the 33rd Regular Combatant Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy. I was a member of the 35th Course. After M.Y Ibrahim had spent roughly three weeks at the Nigerian Army Armour School Bauchi, an opening for a foreign course became available. M.Y Ibrahim was drafted for the course. He was therefore withdrawn from the platoon commander’s course in Bauchi. My unit then was required to fill its allotted spot. An officer needed to be drafted, that was how I was drafted to represent my unit. Officers of the 34th course in my unit, who were militarily my seniors, were by-passed because my unit needed to field an officer who would excel. I got to Bauchi on a Sunday, the following day, Monday, was the final examination day for “Communications” – the first of four phases of the entire course. Expectedly, I didn’t do well on the communications phase. I was, I think, 23 out 28 officers, and I didn’t like that. But at the end of the entire course, I was third overall, which meant I busted my behind in the remaining three phases of the entire course. Then Lt. Col. Umar Abubakar was the Commandant of the Armoured School at that time. I went to him to bitterly complain about the injustice of withdrawing an officer from a course locally to send him to a foreign course. In my mind, irrespective of ethnicity, every officer was supposed to be treated equally. But in this case, equality was thrown to the winds.“While I was attending this course, I got a call from my friend who passed a coded message to me. After I decoded the message, I knew what he meant. This was early 1990; I was attending the Platoon Commanders course. I quickly signed onto the plan. I didn’t think about it because I knew it was the right thing to do.
“As a young man fresh from secondary school, I desired to be in the service and served my country. I wanted to be a soldier. I visited the Nigerian Defence Academy to enlist A former Commander of the Signal Corps gave me the forms that I used to apply to NDA. I took the NDA admissions entrance examination and succeeded. I was invited to Kaduna for interview. Then Brigadier Sanni Abacha was the Board Selection Interview Chairman. He conducted the selection process with other officers. One unique thing Gen. Sanni Abacha did was to announce the results at the Nigerian Defence Academy. This approach of his prevented the removal and replacement of successful candidates with the names of sons of well-connected Nigerians. I was enlisted as a member of the 35th Regular Combatant Course and three years later, I graduated. After graduation, I was posted to the 201 Corps Headquarters Company of the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, the admin unit of the entire Armoured Corps. We provided security to President Babangida who was also an armoured officer. I knew about the strategies, logistics and workings of Dodan Barracks, including the electronics, communication and security operations. I lived intermittently inside Dodan Baracks between 1986 until the coup.
“Three Igbo officers took part in the revolution. We got involved for the love of our country and fellow citizens. We were attempting to change the sad direction the country was heading with the Babangida’s military administration. You had me, Late Lt. C Y Ozoalor and Lt. P C Obasi as the only Igbo military officers who were involved… Jebose, Injustice should not be tribalised and sectionalized. What was going on, then, in our beloved nation state wasn’t good. It was atrocious in the Nigerian army where the elite ruling class was marginalizing certain ethnic groups. For instance, to become an adjutant or admin officer in a unit, you had to be related to a Northerner or somehow be connected to the oligarchy. It wasn’t nationalistic. So what we did, in a way, was to try to correct some of the unpatriotic things that were going on, including but not limited to, god-fatherism culture in the Army. To advance in the army, you had to be connected, know a retired or senior serving army officer, a chief, Alhaji or a businessman who had money… That wasn’t bringing out the best in our army officers and Nigerians. We knew something was wrong. And we knew something had to be done; but then, did we the people, had the courage to deal with it? That was our problem. I was glad that within the army, I was connected to officers who had the courage to pay the ultimate prize in making sure we got it right.
“We were completely and highly prepared to die for our country. I joined the revolutionaries because I wanted to bring about the best possible
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