I Was Terrified When I Heard IBB Had Being Killed During Botched Orkar Coup' -- Security Reporter

 'I Was Terrified  When I Heard IBB  Had Being Killed During Botched Orkar Coup'  -- Security Reporter

As today marks  the 36th anniversary  of  Major Gideon Orkar's Coup against President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida,  veteran security reporter,  Folorunsho Atta, recalled his profund fear and shock upon hearing that  Babanguda had been killed. 

Atta said reflecting on the history of Nigerian Coups,  specifically  how IBB managed to survived all of them,  he was disturbed when he heard of the rumored death of IBB in that Coup attempt. 

"I'm very sure as a young officer,  he was involved  in the counter Coup of 1966. Played a key role in the  1975 Muritala Mohammed Coup against Gen.  Yakubu Gowon which led to his membership of the Supreme Military Council,  SMC,  under Muritala. He helped foiled Col. Dimka Coup against Muritala, even as Muritala didn't survive  the Coup. IBB played a leading role again in the 1983 Buhari Coup against Shagari.  This earned him the position of Chief of Army Staff,  (COAS). He finally staged his own Coup against  Buhari in August 1985. His ability to survive and drive through all these,  especially  knowing  him for so long,  made me uncomfortable,  concerned and worried about the bad news which turned  out to be false. I met him the first time at a private hospital I worked at Maryland,  Lagos in the early 1980s.  From there onward,  I became his junior friend"

"When I heard the news,  I left my Maryland home around 1:00P.M. and walked to the Ikeja Cantonment,   where I saw a crowd being blocked from entering.  I saw a friend,  Captain Mohammed, i was unable to speak with him.  However, I heard through junior ranks that loyalist forces foiled the coup.  I also heard that IBB was safe,  although his ADC,  Lt Col. U. K  Bello was killed. Confirming this few minutes later, was indeed  Gen. Sanni Abacha. In a special broadcast, Abacha  stated that the plot against the government  was surpressed. This signaled the moment chaos subsided and nolmacy retured. At that moment,  I felt an immense  sense of relief ", said Atta.

On while he was worried by the rumored news,  he disclosed that besides his personal history with IBB, the death of a relative,  friend and colleague inevitably leaves one deeply unsettled.  Also, it is a natural reaction to  feel distressed upon hearing of the death of a relative or acquaintance.