Opinion
Capt. Dauda, Sgt. Yildar, Still At Large 48 Years After Dimka’s Coup
By Luka Binniyat
James Mangai, my egregious childhood buddy, now aging with a widening bald head, and an amusing grey mustache, just left my house.
Friendship and the Barracks
It’s been a while since we met, though we both live in Kaduna, with our wives and kids, some of them now grown-ups.
Mangai has been my friend dating back to 1970 when our parents brought us to stay with them at 130 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Ozala, East Central State, (now in Enugu state). The Nigeria civil war had just ended, and our dads, yearning for family companionship, felt we should join them from our homes in Zaria, as the first batch of family reunion. Mangai is of the Challah (Ron) tribal group or Bokkos at that time in Benue-Plateau State and I am from the Atyap ethnic group of ‘Southern Zaria’ North Central State. It is now Southern Kaduna in Kaduna State.
Our parents had met during recruitment at the Nigeria Army Depot in Zaria in 1967 and just hit it off. They fought side-by-side for the entire 3 years that the ‘Ojukwu war’ stretched as infantry soldiers and came out without a scratch.
From Ozala, where we started primary school (St. Paul Primary School Ozala) in 1974, our parents were transferred to Keffi and we both enrolled at the Army Children School, Keffi in the same 1974 up to 1977. After that, we found ourselves moved to three other Barracks around the country during our secondary and University days. After a long time of separation work reunited us in Kaduna in 2011.
After we had lunch, we left the parlor to sit outside for fresh air so we could enjoy our privacy
The Dimka Coup
We reminisced over many issues of those days.
Then, Mangai recalled a grim event that has come to be known as the ‘Dimka coup’ of 1976.
It took place on 13th February, 1976 and we were in primary 3 at Army Children School, Keffi. We recalled with angst the tension and anxiety that gripped 130 Battalion, Keffi. We could hear the voice of one Lt. Col. Buka Suka Dimka spoke over Radio Nigeria about overthrowing Gen Murtala Mohammed that morning and forming a new government. And it wasn’t quite long after Murtala had also expelled Gen. Yakubu Gowon from power. The barracks was thrown into confusion. Our parents got dressed into war gears and gathered at the parade ground for further instructions. There was also confusion and fear as it was said that Christian soldiers had killed Gen Mohammed, a Muslim.
I recalled that Mangai and our friends from Benue-Plateau were excited about the coup, because Dimka was from Pankshim, now in plateau State. But our friends from parts of the Muslim North Central, North Western and Kano states of those days were deeply hurt. Even as kids, we were careful how we discussed the coup ever after.
Then the coup failed.
We remembered that shortly after the coup failed, Olusegun Obasanjo was made Nigeria Head of state.
We heard that Dimka was on the run, but that some army officers had been arrested.
Then it was all over the news that Dimka was arrested somewhere in Igbo land.
We also heard that Maj. Gen Bissallah, also from Jos area, was also arrested.
They were later executed by a firing squad.
Within days, pictures of two soldiers were .posted all over our Barracks. They were also in the newspapers that we were sent to go buy for our teachers and soldiers who could read.
MOST WANTED! was the banner caption.
They were Capt Dauda Usman and Sergeant Clement Yildar.
Now, Yildar was from Benue-Plateau and Usman from ‘Southern Zaria’.
After the execution of the arrested coup plotters, the hunt for the two alleged accomplices continued.
Mythical figures
They later became more like legends because of the myths woven around them.
“Do you remember that it was said that Capt. Dauda was cornered in a House in Kafanchan, but that he turned into a bird and flew through the window,” I asked Mangai to express the invincibility of the ‘Southern Zaria’ man.
“Do you also remember that it was said that the army rushed to Kanke (home town of Sgt. Yildar in Kanke LGA of plateau State) to arrest Yildar who was farming for his father and that he just turned into a small flowing stream and they couldn’t fetch him,” he said of his own person the way myths were woven around them. Of Course we laughed over those tales.
Such monumental happenings don’t fade from memory till death.
Need to revisit Dauda and Yilda’s case
But, then, It’s 48 years now and no one has come up to say anything about the whereabouts of these two fugitive soldiers.
“Strangely, it’s like they don’t have families or children. I can’t remember anyone saying he’s related to them all these years,” Mangai said.
And that also beats my thinking.
These figures still hold remarkable childhood impressions on our psyche 48 years after in a profound manner. And it may also be so for members of our generation and above.
“If Ojukwu who carried out a bloody secession war against the Nigeria State could get a state pardon and Boko Haram terrorists who killed and maimed could be forgiven and rehabilitated, I don’t see why an official pardon cannot be granted to these two soldiers if they are still alive,” Mangai posited.
“Niger Delta militants have been granted amnesty and even apologists for Fulani bandits are asking for their amnesty and even for their ‘compensation despite their heinous crime against humanity,” I added.
“Could it be that certain ethnic nationalities cannot also ask for such favours even for alleged political crimes committed nearly half a century?” I queried.
“If they are alive, they would be in their late eighties or early nineties. I also do believe that they deserve a state pardon,” Mangai said.
“You are the Chairman of the Middle Belt Forum, Kaduna state Chapter,” he pointed out, “these two men need your voice as your members, since their families won’t appear to make a case for them,” he said.
“You must begin to find out what has happened to them and how they can enjoy state pardon alive or postmortem,” he challenged me.
And I have taken that challenge.
They have been on the run for 48 years.
I believe that it’s high time Nigeria revisited their case, especially as no one has heard their own side of the story in that tragic event which redirected the course of this nation.
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Luka Binniyat is an award winning Journalist, freelance writer and is the Chairman, Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State Chapter.
Ken Nnamani, a former president of the senate, says he did not beg Elisha Abbo, a former senator representing Adamawa north, on behalf of any judge after the ex-lawmaker lost his election case in court.
In October 2023, the court of appeal sacked Abbo and declared Amos Yohanna, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the Adamawa north senatorial election.
Appearing on Channels Television on Wednesday, Abbo said he was a victim of “miscarriage of justice”.
The former senator said Nnamani pleaded with him on behalf of a judge after he lost his election case in 2023.
Reacting in a statement, the former senate president described Abbo’s claim as “blatant lies”.
“My greatest surprise was to hear him state that Senator Ken Nnamani visited him to plead with him on behalf of a judge for the miscarriage of justice. This statement is a blatant lie. I do not know how Senator Abbo can boldly fabricate an event that never happened to buttress his allegation of judicial miscarriage against him,” he said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have never visited Senator Elisha Abbo at his house or anywhere. Up to this moment, I do not know where he lives. I have never discussed with him about his case, or any case pending or decided by any court of law in Nigeria.
“The only time I met with him was when he visited me in my house. It was more of a social visit by him. At this meeting, we never discussed his case or any case. I recall that when the matter of his political career came up, I advised him to avoid controversies as a young politician.
“The statements Senator Abbo made regarding me and his case are all fabrications. I believe I have had a sterling and distinguished public service career. I am determined to maintain my integrity and commitment to excellence till the end of my life.”
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a leading Pan-African student body, has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Ogun State under Commissioner of Police (CP) Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, for its commitment to security and community engagement.
In a statement released on Thursday, the President of PSM Nigeria, Comrade Ambassador Okereafor Bestman, highlighted the CP’s efforts in strengthening collaboration between the police, stakeholders, and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“It is worthy of note that CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has further fostered a harmonious working synergy between the police, stakeholders, and other security agents aimed at ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State,” Okereafor said.
The student leader expressed confidence in CP Ogunlowo’s leadership, stating that Ogun State is on track to becoming one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria under his administration.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the Ogun State Police Command in tackling crime, regardless of its scale.
Additionally, PSM acknowledged the Ogun State government’s continued support for security agencies, particularly in providing mobility and logistics to enhance their operational efficiency.
The commendation comes at a time when security remains a top priority for residents and authorities in the state, with ongoing efforts to curb crime and ensure public safety.