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6 unusual facts about Murtala Mohammed


Abdullahi Shelleng

General Murtala Mohammed appointed Abdullahi Shelleng as Military Governor of Benue State on 3 February 1976, a post he held until July 1978.

Babatunde Jose

Following a coup in 1975 by General Murtala Mohammed, the Daily Times was forced to sell 60% of its shares to the government, and Jose was "eased out", departing a year later.

Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu

Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu rose to the position of Inspector General of the Nigerian Police, a post he held from 1975 to 1979 during the military rules of Generals Murtala Mohammed and Olusegun Obasanjo.

Murtala Mohammed

The counter-coup led to the installation of Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon as Supreme Commander of the Nigerian Armed Forces, despite the intransigence of Muhammed who wanted the role of Supreme Commander for himself.

Murtala Muhammed was killed along with his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa, on February 13, 1976 in an abortive coup attempt led by Lt. Col Buka Suka Dimka, when his car was ambushed while en route to his office at Dodan Barracks, Lagos.

Twelve of the twenty-five ministerial posts on the new Federal Executive Council went to civilians, but the cabinet was secondary to the executive Supreme Military Council.


Fall of Enugu

On October 5 thousands of civilians in Asaba were massacred by the Nigerian 2nd Division under General Murtala Mohammed after being forced to attend a public dance, known as the Asaba massacre.

Hamza Abdullahi

In July 1975, Lt. Colonel Abdullahi was Air Provost Marshall and assisted in the coup that removed General Yakubu Gowon from power, replacing him with General Murtala Mohammed.


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