Anthony Ochefu

Anthony Aboki Ochefu
Governor of East Central State, Nigeria
In office July 1975 – 13 February 1976
Preceded by	Ukpabi Asika
Succeeded by	John Atom Kpera (Anambra), Ndubuisi Kanu (Imo)
Personal details
Died	25 November 1999 Oturkpo, Benue State

Colonel Anthony Aboki Ochefu was a Military Governor of East Central State from July 1975 to February 1976 during the military regime of General Murtala Mohammed.^[1]

Military background

During the Nigerian Civil War of 1967–70, Ochefu commanded a battalion tasked with clearing Biafran troops from the riverain areas of the Midwest, taking Koko, Sapele, and Warri, before exploiting northwards to link up with Lt. Col. Murtala Muhammed's 2nd Division. His battalion was then used as a spearhead in the seaborne landing and capture of Calabar.^[2]

He was provost-marshal in 1975 when he was one of the leaders of the coup that overthrew General Yakubu Gowon on 29 July 1975. As a Christian, he played an important role in involving middle-belt officers in the planned coup.^[3] Ochefu played a central role in pulling off the coup, centered on the army headquarters at Dodan Barracks. Immediately after the coup, he was appointed Governor of East Central State.^[4] The colonels who managed the coup included Abdullahi Mohammed, Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, Joseph Nanven Garba, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari as well as Ochefu. Rather than name one of themselves as leader, they handed power to General Murtala Mohammed, with General Olusegun Obasanjo as Chief of Staff.^[5]

As governor, he renamed the newly opened Haile Selassie I Institute to the State Orthopaedic Hospital in July 1975, and shelved plans to build an Ophthalmic surgery part of the hospital.^[6]

After Murtala Mohammed was assassinated on 13 February 1976, Chief of Staff Olusegun Obasanjo became head of state. Obasanjo fired or retired 215 officers. Ochefu was ostensibly fired for his conduct before the coup as Commanding Officer of the Lagos Garrison.^[7] He was shot dead at a Petrol Station in Oturkpo, Benue State on 25 November 1999. The police arrested seven suspects.^[8] A traditional ruler was believed to have been behind the killing. The police, headed by Inspector General Musiliu Smith were criticized for failing to follow up, releasing the suspects.^[9]

References

1. "Nigerian States". WorldStatesmen. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
2. Nowa Omoigui. "Federal Nigerian Army Blunders of the Nigerian Civil War - Part 9". Dawodu. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
3. Nowa Omoigui. "Military Rebellion of July 29, 1975: The coup against Gowon - Part 6". Dawodu. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
4. Max Siollun (2009). Oil, politics and violence: Nigeria's military coup culture (1966-1976). Algora Publishing. p. 233. ISBN 0-87586-708-1.
5. Ebenezer Babatope (7 November 2004). "Nigeria's Quest for Stability: The Challenges Ahead (3)". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
6. "Background to date". NATIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL, ENUGU. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
7. Africa report, Volume 21, Issues 1-4. African-American Institute. 1976. p. 23.
8. Emmanuel Onwubiko (December 29, 2000). "Police may transfer Ochefu's case to Abuja". Guardian Online. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
9. Emmanuel C. Onyeozili (April 2005). "Obstacles to Effective Policing in Nigeria" (PDF). African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-20. Retrieved 2010-05-15.