Remembering Major Gideon Orkar, Benue-born soldier who failed to overthrow IBB

Gideon Gwaza Orkar was born to the family of Levi Orkar Chi, a teacher of Tiv heritage in Apir village of Gwer Local Government in Benue State, Nigeria on October 4th, 1952. He led the insurrection against the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida on Sunday, April 22nd, 1990.

Gideon Orkar Age

Gideon Orkar would have been 67 years old, if he were alive today. May his soul rest in peace.

Gideon Orkar Early Life

Orkar attended primary schools at the village of Apir and Wadata. He also attended Boys Secondary School, Gindiri, Plateau State where that took Higher School Certificate classes.

Gideon Orkar Career

Orkar joined the Nigeria army as a cadet in 1972. He served in various units including the Reece at Kaduna, 82, Division, Enugu, and Armoured School, Bauchi. In 1986, he attended the senior Officers Course 9 at the Command and Staff College, Jaji. He also served as commander of Saki 22 Armoured Battalion in Oyo State and was a member of the Directing Staff of the Command and Staff College, Jaji.

On April 22nd, 1990, Orkar led a millitary coup with 41 others mostly from the Niger-Delta region, in a bid to topple President Ibrahim Babangida and bring greater autonomy to Nigeria’s Christian-dominated states. In his broadcast, Orkar accused the regime of being ‘dictatorial, corrupt, drug-baronish, inhumane, sadistic, homosexually-centered and unpatriotic.’ Orkar also said he had seized power on behalf of the country’s Christian-dominated southern and central areas, which he claimed had been ‘reduced to slavery’ by the mostly Moslem north.

It was the second attempt to oust Babangida since he seized power in 1985. In December 1985, 14 soldiers were accused of plotting to overthrow the government and subsequently executed. Although the latest attempt was widely held as ill-conceived, Babangida’s reputation for strong leadership has been dented. In the weeks following the attempt, numerous journalists were detained and several newspapers forcibly closed.

The soldiers were killed on July 27th, 1990 at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos after they were convicted by the Major-General Ike Nwachukwu-led Special Military Tribunal which found them guilty and sentenced them to death by firing squad.

Gideon Orkar Personal Life

General Orkar was married to Bunmi Orkar, the Chief Nursing Officer of the Nigerian Army Intelligence School, Apapa, Lagos. They were blessed with children.

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