Rare pictures of 1976 coup plotters and how they were executed for assassinating late head-of-state, Murtala Muhammed

- Coups and counter-coups are a major feature of Nigeria's political development

- The first military coup, led by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu, was carried out shortly after independence on January 15, 1966

- A bloody counter coup, championed majorly by northern officers six months later, was a revenge against the first coup

- The bloody 1976 putsch was another of such coups which exposed the power play among the country's military elite that dominated power until 1999 democratic rule

Since the independence of Nigeria from the British fifty-six years ago, a few days hold more significance than one bloody day forty-one years ago. On March 11, 1976, a violent military coup took place in Lagos, the then capital of Nigeria that altered the course of history.

On March 11 2017, the day came and went quietly, like a thief in the night. Not many Nigerians, especially the new generation of our country men knew what happened that led to the assassination of a sitting head-of-state. Precisely on March the 1976 coup led by Lieutenant Colonel Buka Suka Dimka was against the military regime of late General Murtala Mohammed.

The coup which took place on February 13, 1976, led to the assassination of General Mohammed. Although, the coup was aborted, the plotters were arrested by General Olusegun Obasanjo who was the second in command to the late military ruler. Obasanjo was installed as Murtala Muhammed successor after the coup

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While some of those who took part of coup were executed, others, were given various sentences depending on their level of participation. A list of the plotters, shows those executed on March 11, 1976:

1. Major I. D Bisalla

2. Warrant officer 2 Monday Monchon

3. Staff Sergeant Richard Dungdang

4. Sergeant Sale Pankshim

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5. Lieutenant Colonel A. R Aliyu

6. Captain M. Parvwong

7. Captain J. F. Idi

8. Captain S. Wakins

9. Lieutenant Mohammed

10. Lieutenant E. L. K Shelleng

11. Lieutenant Colonel Ayuba Tense

12. Colonel A. D. S. Way

13. Lieutenant Colonel T. K. Adamu

14. Lieutenant A. B. Umaru

15. Captain A. A. Aliyu

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16. Captain Augustine Dawurang

17. Major M. M. Mshelia

18. Lieutenant William Seri

19. Major I. B. Ribo

20. Major K. K. Gagra

21. Captain M. R. Gelip

22. Mr. Abubakar Zakari

23. Lieutenant Peter Ggani

24. Major Ola Ogunmekan

25. Lieutenant O. Zagni

26. Lieutenant S. Wayah

27. Sergeant Ahmadu Rege

28. Sergeant Bala Javan

29. Warrant officer 2 Sambo Dankshin

30. Warrant officer Emmanuel Dakup Seri

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31. Major J. W. Kasai

Those executed on May 17, 1979, were:

1. Bula Suka Dimka

2. Joseph D. Gomwalk

3. Lieutenant S. Kwale

4. Warrant officer H. E. Bawa

5. Colonel I. Buka

6. Major J. K. Afolabi

7. H. Shaiyen

Those jailed for life were:

1. S. K. Dimka

2. D. Contulla

3. Gyang Pam

4. Captain C. Wuyep

5. Captain A. A. Maidobo

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6. Warrant officer 2 E. Izah

7. Sergeant I. Bupwada

8. Second lieutenant A. Walbe

9. Major A. K. Abang

10. S. Anyafodu

11. Helen Gomwalk

12. Captain Peter Tembong

Other prison sentences:

1. Captain I. Gowon - 15 years

2. J. Tuwe - 10 years

3. Lieutenant Colonel J. S. Madugu - two years

Source: Legit.ng