Ibrahim Taiwo

Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo (died 13 February 1976) was a Military Governor of Kwara State from July 1975 to February 1976 during the military regime of General Murtala Mohammed.[1] He assisted in establishment of the University of Ilorin, which was founded by decree August, 1975.[2]

Ibrahim Taiwo
Governor of Kwara State
In office
July 1975 – 13 February 1976
Preceded byDavid Bamigboye
Succeeded byGeorge Agbazika Innih
Personal details
BornWushishi, Niger State
Died13 February 1976
NationalityNigerian
Military service
Allegiance Nigeria
Branch/service Nigerian Army
RankColonel

Life

Taiwo was born in Wushishi, Niger State to the family of Adeosun and Emily Taiwo. He was brought up in Kagara and was sometimes called Ibrahim Kagara while he was in school. Taiwo's father was of Ogbomosho ancestry. Ibrahim Taiwo was educated at Senior Primary School, Minna, Bida Middle School, and briefly attended the Provincial Secondary School, Okene for his Higher School Certificate.

Military career

Taiwo joined the military in 1961, he started military training at the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna and also attended Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot. While in the army, he served as a mechanical transport officer, Officer Commanding 2 Brigade Transport in Apapa, Staff Captain, Army Headquarters, Lagos, Officer in charge of 7 Brigade, Asaba and then Officer in charge of the Transport Company, Kaduna. During the Civil War, he was head of the transport and supplies division of the Nigerian Army.

Participation in the Nigerian Counter-Coup of July 1966

Taiwo, then a Captain with the Lagos Garrison in Yaba, was one of the many officers (including 2nd Lieutenant Sani Abacha, Lieutenant Muhammadu Buhari, Lieutenant Ibrahim Bako, Lt Colonel Murtala Muhammed, and Major Theophilus Danjuma among others), who staged what became known as the Nigerian Counter-Coup of 1966 because of grievances[3] they felt towards the administration of General Aguiyi Ironsi's government which quelled the 15 January 1966 coup.

During the Nigerian Civil War, Taiwo was one of the key figures in the Asaba massacre. He was the principal actor who odered thousands of defenceless indigenes be gunned down in an execution style. This is Nigeria's greatest recorded genocidal act during its civil war.

Participation in the Nigerian Military Coup of 1975

Taiwo played a central role in the coup that ousted Yakubu Gowon and brought Murtala Mohammed to power, under cover of his Supply and Transport duties in the army, working closely with Lt. Col. Muhammadu Buhari.[4]

Casualty of the 1976 Military Coup

Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo was murdered on 13 February 1976 during a failed coup in which the then Head of State Gen. Murtala Mohammed was also killed. General Olusegun Obasanjo was later appointed as Head of State keeping the rest of Gen. Murtala Mohammed's Chain of command in place.[5]

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References
  1. "Nigerian States". WorldStatesmen. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
  2. "Welcome to the University of Ilorin". University of Ilorin. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
  3. Siollun, Max. Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966 - 1976). Algora. p. 97. ISBN 9780875867090.
  4. Nowa Omoigui. "Military Rebellion of July 29, 1975: The coup against Gowon - Part 6". Dawodu. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
  5. Max Siollun (2009). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976). Algora Publishing. ISBN 0-87586-708-1.


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