The January 15, 1966 coup stands as one of the most pivotal events in Nigeria’s post‑independence history, marking the first time the military intervened in civilian governance. Among the senior officers killed during that coup was Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari, a respected and professionally trained Nigerian Army officer. This article provides a fact‑based account of his life, military career, the circumstances of his death, and the wider implications of the coup for Nigeria’s political evolution.
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Early Life and Military Career
Brigadier Zakariya Abubakar Hassan Maimalari was born in what is today Yobe State in northern Nigeria. He received his early education at Barewa College, Zaria, an institution that produced several prominent Nigerians in politics and the military. Maimalari joined the Royal West Africa Frontier Force in 1950, along with his childhood friend Lawan Umar, becoming part of the early Nigerian military leadership cadre.
As part of efforts to increase the number of indigenous officers in the Nigerian Army, Maimalari undertook preparatory training at the Regular Officers Training School in Teshie, Ghana, before attending the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in the United Kingdom. He was one of the first Nigerian regular combatants commissioned into the Nigerian Army officer corps.
Maimalari advanced through the ranks, serving as an instructor at the Nigerian Military Training College and commanding the Second Battalion in Abeokuta from 1962 to 1963. By 1963 he had risen to Brigadier and Commander of the 2nd Brigade, Nigerian Army, in Apapa, Lagos. His reputation was that of a disciplined, professional soldier with an impeccable service record.
Political and Military Context of 1966
In the early 1960s, Nigeria’s First Republic was beset by political crises, contested elections, and regional rivalries that fuelled widespread dissatisfaction. Many in the military believed that the political leadership had failed to address corruption and protect national unity. Within this environment, a group of mostly junior army officers began planning a coup aimed at overthrowing the civilian government.
The conspirators, including Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Major Donatus Okafor, Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu and others, coordinated operations in Lagos and other regions of Nigeria for the early hours of 15 January 1966. Their plan involved arresting or eliminating senior political and military leaders perceived as obstacles to their objectives.
The Night of the Coup
On the night of 14 January 1966, Brigadier Maimalari hosted a social gathering at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos, celebrating his recent marriage. Some junior officers attended the event. Sources differ on whether any of the guests were coup conspirators, and there is no definitive documentation confirming the identities of all attendees or their later involvement in the coup.
In the early hours of 15 January, coup forces moved against senior officers. A detachment of the Federal Guards Brigade, led by Major Donatus Okafor, went to Maimalari’s residence with orders to arrest him as part of the coup plan. Maimalari’s guards were overwhelmed, and he escaped by jumping over a wall at the rear of his home.
Death of Brigadier Maimalari
After escaping the initial attack, Maimalari fled on foot toward the main road. It was there that he encountered a vehicle driven by his Brigade Major, Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna, who was involved in the coup. Maimalari recognised Ifeajuna, who at the time had been a trusted subordinate. Believing he was encountering a friendly officer, Maimalari signalled the vehicle to stop.
Instead of offering support, Ifeajuna shot Maimalari, killing him. The account of Maimalari’s death at Ifeajuna’s hands is corroborated by multiple historical records and is widely accepted by scholars of the 1966 coup.
This act was especially shocking within military ranks because Ifeajuna had previously served under Maimalari and was considered a capable officer. Maimalari’s killing by a fellow officer underscored the depth of betrayal within some elements of the army at that moment.
Other Key Figures Affected by the Coup
The January 1966 coup did not target military figures alone. Several prominent politicians were killed, including Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the northern Premier Sir Ahmadu Bello, the western Premier Samuel Akintola and the Federal Minister of Finance Festus Okotie‑Eboh, among others. The coup’s execution led to significant loss of life, including top military and civilian leaders, which intensified national shock and grief.
Immediate Aftermath
The coup’s most immediate consequence was the collapse of the civilian government and the assumption of power by Major‑General Johnson Aguiyi‑Ironsi, who became Head of State. Ironsi, then the most senior officer to escape death or arrest, moved quickly to restore order, detain coup conspirators, and centralise authority.
However, Ironsi’s reluctance to prosecute or punish those responsible for assassinations, including the deaths of senior politicians and officers like Maimalari, created resentment within other factions of the army. This resentment would contribute to the counter‑coup of July 1966, which further fractured national unity and set the stage for the Nigerian Civil War.
Legacy and Historical Importance
Brigadier Maimalari’s death remains a defining moment in Nigeria’s turbulent post‑independence history. As one of the first Nigerian Army officers trained at Sandhurst and a senior commander, his killing exemplified the erosion of professional norms within the military and the dangers of political interference.
The 1966 coup and Maimalari’s fate also highlighted the fragility of Nigeria’s federal system, the intensity of regional and ethnic tensions, and the vulnerability of democratic institutions at the time. These developments informed the patterns of military involvement in governance that continued in Nigeria for decades.
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Author’s Note
Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari’s life and death remind us that Nigeria’s early post‑independence journey was marked by ambition, uncertainty, and profound challenges. His professional rise and tragic demise in the January 1966 coup illustrate how military and political upheavals can overturn lives and alter national history. The events of that night still resonate, underscoring the stakes of disciplined civil‑military relations and the need to safeguard democratic governance.
References
- Max Siollun, Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria’s Military Coup Culture (1966‑1976), Algora Publishing, 2009.
- Ben Gbulie, Nigeria’s Five Majors: Coup d’état of 15th January 1966 First Inside Account, Africana Educational Publishers, 1981.
- Haruna Y. Poloma, Who Was Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari?, Sahara Reporters, 2014.
