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The Assassination of General Murtala Muhammed on February 13 1976

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2 days ago

December 2, 2024

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The car in which Gen. Murtala Muhammed was killed

The nation was thrown into turmoil on the 13th of February, 1976 after the Head of State and Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, was assassinated in Lagos during an unsuccessful coup led by Lt. Col. Buka Suka Dimka.

History has it that General Murtala Muhammed lived a low-profile life which made his assassination easier for the coup plotters. Around 8 am on the 13th of February, 1976, Gen. Murtala Muhammed set out for his office at Dodan Barracks in an official black Mercedes Benz saloon car. He was in the company of his Aide-de-camp (ADC), Akintunde Akinsheinwa, an orderly, Michael Otuwu and a driver…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

Murtala Muhammed's Car

The only visible sign of protection was a pistol carried by Michael Otuwu. Unlike many other Nigerian leaders, Murtala did not go around with a dozen of reckless-driving convoy. Near the Federal Secretariat at Ikoyi in Lagos, a traffic controller stopped the lane on which the Head of State’s Mercedes-Benz car was.

Lt-Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo who was the Chief of Staff (Supreme Headquarters) and Lt-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, the Chief of Army Staff, were also marked for assassination on the same day and almost the same time as the Head of State. General Murtala wasn’t lucky like Lt-Gen. Obasanjo and Lt-Gen. Danjuma who survived the attack.

Assassination of Murtala Muhammed — General Murtala Muhammed

Lt-Col. Dimka and three other coup plotters (Major Rabo, Captain Parwang and Lieutenant Seri) were already in a petrol station, waiting for Murtala’s car. As the car stopped in the traffic, Dimka and his men opened fire on Murtala’s car killing everyone except the orderly, Michael Otuwu who still lives to tell his part of the story.

Otuwu explained that he had earlier seen a man on babanriga (Hausa traditional attire) approach their car immediately it stopped; this man was later identified as Dimka. Otuwu said,

“He (Dimka) shot the driver in the head, then other soldiers loyal to him ran towards the car and opened fire. Murtala would have survived the attack had the coup plotters not noticed the door of his car opened shortly after it was riddled with bullets from AK-47 assault rifles. The moment Dimka’s boys noticed the opened door, another rain of bullets fell on the car and killed Murtala this time.”

Immediately after the assassination, Lt. Col. Buka Suka Dimka ran to the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) to announce the success of the coup which unknowing to him was not yet successful. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Murtala muhammed's burial — General Murtala being laid to rest in 1976

At the NBC, Dimka read his first speech:

“Fellow Nigerians, Murtala Muhammed’s deficiency has been detected. His government is now overthrown by young revolutionaries. All the 19 military governors have no powers over the states they now govern. The states affairs will be run by military brigade commanders until further notice…”

Lt. Col. Dimka, thinking the coup was successful, bragged on,

“Unfortunately for him too, he didn’t live to rectify his dream of ruling Africa’s most populous country. Unlike his predecessor, General Yakubu Gowon, General Muhammed was considered tough, dogged and fearless. It is touted that he applied these characteristics in his resolved fight to rid the country of all form of corruption by some military governor-politicians under General Gowon, whom he said had betrayed the trust and confidence reposed in them by the nation and betrayed the ethics of their profession.”

“His fight against public sector corruption led to mass dismissals and the retirement of over 10,000 public officials on the grounds of inefficiency and corruption. As it is in modern Nigeria, many of those dismissed or retired were people regarded as highly placed, with connections in high places. Perhaps, it could be said that the difference between General Muhammed and Nigeria’s current crop of leaders is that while the General was willing to make the hard decision for a greater and brighter tomorrow even though as a military regime, today’s leaders lack the political will to make hard choices that could better the lots of the country.”

Col. Ibrahim Babangida led a detachment of soldiers to dislodge Dimka and his men at Radio Nigeria on the others of Lt-Gen. Danjuma. It was reported that Dimka escaped through a tunnel.

Dimka and other coup plotters executed — Dimka and other six coup plotters during their execution

Lt. Col. Dimka was arrested near Abakaliki in Eastern Nigeria on the 6th of March, 1976. On the 15th of May, 1976, Dimka and other six coup plotters were publicly executed by firing squad at the Maximum Security Prison in Lagos.

Gen. Muhammed Murtala was succeeded by Lt-Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo who stayed in power till 1979 when he handed over power to the democratic government of Alhaji Sheu Shagari.

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METRO

40-Year-Old SAPS Officer in trouble for allegedly raping a female prisoner, See what happened

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2 hours ago

December 4, 2024

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A 40-year-old police constable, Siyabonga Morris Mbane, appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court following allegations of rape at the Mfuleni Police Station. The accused, who was on duty as a cell guard at the time, allegedly assaulted a female detainee, raising serious concerns about the safety of individuals in police custody.

This distressing event occurs against a backdrop of widespread police misconduct in South Africa, where public trust in law enforcement has been severely eroded. Recent statistics paint a grim picture, with 61% of citizens believing that “most” or “all” police officers are involved in corrupt activities. The country also grapples with alarmingly high rates of sexual offenses, with approximately 53,500 cases reported in the 2022/2023 fiscal year, 80% of which were rape cases…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

The incident at Mfuleni Police Station underscores the inadequacies in existing protocols and safety measures for detainees in South African police lockups. These facilities, intended for short-term stays, often suffer from overcrowding, poor lighting, and inadequate ventilation. More critically, they lack essential safety features such as emergency buzzers, leaving detainees vulnerable and reliant on shouting for help in emergencies. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

The impact of such incidents on community trust is profound. Only about one-third of South Africans express trust in the police, with the percentage of those who do not trust the police at all increasing significantly over the years. This lack of trust is particularly concerning in cases of sexual assault, where victims may be reluctant to report crimes due to fear of further victimization or inaction by the police.

In response to the pervasive issue of sexual assault, South Africa has established various support services for victims. These include Thuthuzela Care Centres, which provide comprehensive medical, counseling, and legal assistance, and organizations like Rape Crisis and POWA, offering free counseling and support. However, the effectiveness of these services is undermined by the very institutions meant to protect citizens.

READ FULL STORY HERE>>...CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

METRO

A Cop Who Slept With A Woman Twice In A Cell Has Been Arrested

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2 hours ago

December 4, 2024

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A police constable, Siyabonga Mbane, has been arrested and charged with the rape of a 26-year-old woman detained at the Mfuleni SAPS police station. The incident occurred on Thursday, November 28, 2024, when Mbane allegedly removed the woman from her holding cell and took her to an empty cell where he raped her twice.

According to reports, the woman had been locked up with five other suspects on Friday, November 29, on allegations of kidnapping and attempted murder. Following the incident, Mbane allegedly returned the woman to her cell, where she reported the incident to the morning shift officers…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has taken over the investigation, and Mbane appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrates Court on Monday, December 2. The case has been postponed to Monday, December 9, for a bail application.

Police spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie, confirmed the arrest and stated that the matter is being handled by Ipid. Ipid spokesman, Phaladi Shuping, also confirmed the arrest and appearance of Mbane in court ¹.

This incident raises serious concerns about the conduct of police officers and the safety of detainees in police custody. It is essential that the investigation is thorough and justice is served. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

The incident is a stark reminder of the need for accountability and transparency within the police service. It is crucial that police officers are held to the highest standards of conduct and that any allegations of misconduct are thoroughly investigated.

In a similar incident in the United States, a police officer, Maegan Hall, was fired and charged with sexual misconduct after it was alleged that she had sex with multiple male officers while on duty ².

The incident highlights the need for police departments to take allegations of misconduct seriously and to take swift action against officers who engage in such behavior.

In conclusion, the arrest of Constable Siyabonga Mbane is a step in the right direction towards holding police officers accountable for their actions. It is essential that the investigation is thorough and justice is served to ensure that the public has trust in the police service.

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METRO

Man who ravished and impregnated 12-year-old girl spent only 6 months in jail, but ‘when the victim heard the judge’s ruling she screamed in disbelief’!

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2 hours ago

December 4, 2024

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Per reports, the then-18-year-old defendant, Christopher, reportedly abducted 12-year-old girl, Tiffany, took her to an abandoned house, and r-ped her for 2 days.

Prosecutors said that the child ended up pregnant. Unfortuantely, her r-pist only spent 6 months in jail, but 9 years later, a judge made a new ruling and when the victim heard it, she screamed in horror and disbelief.

“She, her 13-year-old sister, and a friend all slipped out of their house one night to meet a boy and the boy’s older friend, Christopher, showed up and asked if they wanted to go for a ride,” explained the victim’s attorney, Rebeca. “They thought they were going to McDonald’s or somewhere…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

“Instead, he tossed their cellphones away, drove to another city where he stole gas from a station and then drove back, where he kept them captive for 2 days in a vacant house near a relative, finally releasing the older sister in a park,” Rebeca said. “He threatened to kill them if they told anyone what happened.” A month later, Christopher was arrested, and Tiffany was pregnant.

Although the assault potentially carried a penalty of life or a term no less than 25 years, the defendant was given a plea deal by the Prosecutor’s Office. He pleaded guilty to attempted third-degree criminal se-ual conduct and was only sentenced to one year in the county jail. He only served six and a half months, however, before being granted early release to care for his sick mother.

According to Rebeca, Tiffany and her family were told first-time se* offenders weren’t sent to prison because people come out worse after they go there. In Christopher’s case, however, he should have been kept locked up, which he proved shortly after, when he committed another se* assault, this time on a 14-year-old victim. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Sadly, he only served four years for his second offense, and it wouldn’t be the last Tiffany heard of him. After changing her entire life to care for her son, Tiffany’s frightening ordeal involving her abuser came back to haunt her when she applied for state aid.

While receiving government assistance, Tiffany was told that if she did not disclose who was the father of her child, she would lose her benefits. But, things got so much worse when she named Christopher.

Not only was her ra-ist given the rape victim’s address and his name ordered to be added to the child’s birth certificate, Christopher was awarded joint legal custody by Judge Ross after DNA testing established paternity of the child. The judge granted parenting time and joint legal custody of the now-8-year-old boy to a convicted se* offender who r-ped his mother nine years before.

“This is insane,” said Rebeca, who filed objections, seeking protection under the federal R-pe Survivor Child Custody Act. This entire custody case was initiated by the court, not the biological father.

“Chris was notified of the paternity matter and an order of filiation was issued last month by the court saying he had joint legal custody and reasonable visitation privileges,” Barbara, Christopher’s attorney, said, according to CBS News.

Luckily, Supreme Court spokesman Nevin later announced that Judge Ross didn’t know the man had two criminal s-xual conduct convictions, including one concerning the woman. The judge has rescinded the controversial order, but Christopher is still on the hook for child support.

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