Today, 60 years ago on January 15, 1966, was the day that retrogressively altered the destiny of Nigeria, Africa’s budding Giant, as at that time. It was one Night of Blood! It was Nigeria’s first Military coup which was what precipitated the civil war that engulfed the country.
That singular event occasioned the killing of several of Nigeria’s finest and brightest military officers, truncating the the joy and serenity of civilian rule following after Independence from the British Colonial Masters.
One of the victims of that dastardly event was Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun who was as at the time Commander of 1st Brigade, Nigeria Army, Kaduna. But it was one casualty too many.
Ademulegun’s wife, Mrs Latifat Feyisitan Ademulegun, alongside her eight-month yet-unborn baby in her womb, were killed by the coup plotters right in their bedroom. Thereafter, the assailants also killed the Brigadier who was number 3 in the entire Nigerian Army, following after another Officer, Bassey and Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi, the then numero uno in the military at that time.
What was the reason behind the killing? The hit-men who gained access to his bedroom numbering about six and wielding sub-machine guns led by one Major Onwuatuegwu were reportedly demanding Brigadier Ademulegun to release the key of the Armoury within his Brigade for use to execute the coup which was rebuffed.
What made the act so sordid was the fact that the gruesome murder all happened in the full glare of Solape, their six-year old daughter, now Mrs Solape Ademulegun-Agbi who has been championing the family’s plea seeking closure to the entire episode of six decades ago.
For years, Solape and her two other brothers who all witnessed the sad happenings, have been desperate to at least know the particular spot or grave where the military buried their parents. But, this has been to no avail.
The family’s search for the graves of the slain Brigadier Ademulegun and his wife has taken them to the military headquarters and key political leaders several times without number to prevail on that institution to act on that matter so that their memory can be assuaged but still yielded no success.
Today, Thursday 15th January, 2026, the Ademulegun family have packaged an event of tributes to celebrate their heroic gallantry and immortalize the memory of the Ondo-born Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun and his wife. It is slated to hold at Lekki, Lagos from 1pm.
Mrs Solape Ademulegun-Agbi said during an interview: “For 60 years now, we have sought answers to many questions from those in authority. The most saddening being the fact that we do not know where they, our parents, were buried.
“The years have since gone by. We want to celebrate their gallant and heroic lives. Even when there is still no closure and our hearts still bleed everyday.
“But right now, we believe that President Bola Tinubu can ease our pains. We are appealing to the President to direct the military authorities to show us from their records where exactly the spot where our parents are buried. This will go a long way to help us to put this tortuous pain, tears and grief behind us.”
On the occasion of the commemoration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, many prominent Nigerians have lend their voice to urge President Tinubu to direct an investigation into why the military have not been able to accede to the request of the Ademulegun family.
A human rights advocate, Comrade Adesina Ahmed, in his reaction said: “The story of Nigerian Government’s treatment of the burial details of the remains of the late Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun is sad, to say the least.
“It is a classical example of Nigerian authority’s insensitivity. Why would Nigerian Government or even the Military who he served so diligently, refuse to or fail to disclose where the remains of Brigadier Ademulegun was buried? Why? Is it that no one knows or that the government and the military are hiding something?
“Is it not enough that the military failed Brigadier Ademulegun and his family, as it betrayed him when it mattered most. It is most unfair to also deny him a befitting burial. Even the true burial sites of convicted coup plotters in Nigeria are known. Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun was not a coup plotter. He was instead, a brutal victim of the 1966 coup plot.
“It is therefore surprising why various governments in Nigeria have refused to comfort the family of Brigadier Ademulegun over the years,” he concluded, pleading that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should use his good offices to grant the children of the late Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun, their request.
A community leader, Pa Josiah Oladele, Nigerian Government and its military should not only disclose the burial site of the late Brigadier Ademulegun but should also give him the national honour he deserves.
Pa Oladele stated: “Brigadier Ademulegun died resisting insurrection in his fatherland. Anyone can imagine the pains the family of this national hero must have suffered in the last 60 years, as they search for the burial site(s) of their beloved parents.”
