How Anthony Ochefu helped coordinate 1975 Coup that removed Gowon – IBB

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has revealed that Colonel Anthony Ochefu played a crucial role in the execution of the 1975 coup that ousted General Yakubu Gowon.

Babangida made this known in his autobiography, A Journey in Service, where he detailed how Ochefu, alongside other key military officers, coordinated the final stages of the takeover and secured the support of senior colleagues to ensure the coup’s success.

“However, when the final decision was made in early 1975 to remove the Gowon administration, the feeling was that another military regime would take over and prepare the country for civil rule. As documented in his Memoirs, Diplomatic Soldiering, by Colonel Joe Garba (then Commander of the Brigade of Guards), the final coordination of the coup’s execution was left to him, Lt-Col. Shehu Yar’Adua, and the Provost Marshal of the Army, Colonel Anthony Ochefu.

“Their coordination included securing the ‘friendly neutrality’ of such superior officers as Major-General Muhammed Shuwa, Brigadiers Murtala Muhammed, Iliya Bisalla, Theophilus Danjuma, Olusegun Obasanjo, Olufemi Olutoye, Gibson Jalo, Ibrahim Haruna, Colonels Ibrahim Taiwo, and Abdullahi Mohammed, who was then head of Army Intelligence.”