Sixty years have passed since Nigeria witnessed one of the most painful chapters in its early military history, yet the memory remains raw.
The killing of Brigadier Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun and his pregnant wife, Latifat, during Nigeria’s first military coup is not just a story from the past.
It is a reminder of loyalty, duty, and a sacrifice that continues to demand national reflection.
A Death That Became a Symbol of Patriotism
Time may dull many wounds, but some losses carry lessons that should never fade.
Brigadier Ademulegun’s death stands out not simply because of how it happened, but because of what it represented.
Faced with the chance to save his own life by compromising national security, he chose instead to uphold his oath as a soldier.
That decision, made in the face of death, remains one of the clearest expressions of patriotism in Nigeria’s military history.
A Nation in Crisis, a Family in Ruins
The night of January 15, 1966, plunged Nigeria into turmoil. But beyond the national chaos was a deeply personal tragedy.
The Ademulegun family was torn apart in a single night.
While the country struggled to understand the aftermath of the coup, a young family was left shattered, their future violently erased.
For those left behind, especially the children, the event was not history—it was a lifelong nightmare.
Kaduna, January 15, 1966: The Night Everything Changed
Brigadier Ademulegun had retired for the night in his Kaduna home, alongside his wife who was eight months pregnant.
Their residence, located in a secure and well-guarded military area, offered no hint of the danger approaching.
Unaware of the unfolding coup across the country, the couple slept peacefully, believing themselves safe.
Betrayal at the Bedroom Door
That illusion of safety collapsed when a group of junior officers forced their way into his bedroom.
Leading them was Major Timothy Onwuatuegwu, a colleague and trusted friend of the family.
Shocked and alarmed, Ademulegun reportedly questioned how his friend had ended up in his bedroom at such an hour.
It was clear something was terribly wrong.
The Demand He Refused to Grant
The coup was already in motion. The officers demanded the keys to the armoury, a critical step in advancing their plot.
For Brigadier Ademulegun, a Sandhurst-trained officer and one of the earliest members of the Nigerian Army, this was an impossible request.
Professionalism and loyalty to the nation were deeply ingrained in him.
Handing over weapons to junior officers seeking to overthrow the government was not an option.
A Final Attempt to Save Lives
In a desperate effort to calm the situation, Latifat Ademulegun stepped between her husband and the armed officers. Her plea did not soften the moment.
She was shot and killed instantly.
Her husband, still refusing to surrender the armoury keys, was also murdered.
He was 42 years old. She was 38.
Their lives ended together, in the very room meant to be their place of rest.
Children Who Witnessed the Unthinkable
The killings happened in front of their young children.
Six-year-old Solape and four-year-old Adegoke were terrified by the gunshots they could not understand.
Their older brother, Bankole, then 13, rushed toward the noise but retreated in fear after seeing soldiers everywhere.
By morning, their parents’ bodies were taken away, and the children never saw them again—nor were they told where they were buried.
A Childhood Defined by Loss and Uncertainty
The aftermath of that night forced the Ademulegun children into a life of instability.
Passed from one relative or family friend to another, they grew up without parents and without answers.
While Nigeria grappled with the consequences of the coup, six children were left to navigate grief, confusion, and survival.
Six Children, Three Lives Lost Along the Way
Of the six children, three have since passed away, including Francis Bamidele, who followed his father’s footsteps into the military and rose to the rank of Group Captain in the Nigerian Air Force.
Bankole and Adekunle are also gone.
Those still living are Gbenga, Solape Ademulegun-Agbi, and Adegoke, each carrying the same unanswered questions.
Sixty Years Later, the Pain Remains
With the support of kind friends and by sheer resilience, the surviving children have built lives for themselves.
Yet, six decades later, the emotional wound remains open.
What troubles them most is Nigeria’s treatment of its heroes.
Despite annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day observances on January 15, one critical question has never been answered.
An Unanswered Question That Refuses to Fade
Where were Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun and his wife, Latifat, buried?
Despite repeated appeals over the years, the family has received no clear response.
Private efforts to draw government attention to this unresolved matter have yielded nothing, leaving the family in painful uncertainty.
A Plea to the Nation and Its Leaders
As the 60th anniversary of their killing is marked, the children of Brigadier Ademulegun are asking for something simple but deeply meaningful: a proper, dignified burial for their parents.
They are appealing directly to President Bola Tinubu, the military high command, and the Nigerian state to honour a man who gave his life for the country at a critical moment in its history.
Why This Honour Still Matters
Brigadier Ademulegun’s sacrifice sends a powerful message.
Honouring him properly would reaffirm to serving officers and future generations that loyalty, professionalism, and sacrifice are valued—not forgotten.
It would show that Nigeria does not abandon those who laid down their lives in her defence.
Seeking Closure While Time Allows
For the children who watched their parents die, the trauma will never fully disappear.
But knowing where their parents were laid to rest would offer a measure of closure.
Sixty years on, while those children are still alive, they are simply asking for recognition, dignity, and truth.
A Simple Honour Long Overdue
Nigeria owes her heroes more than remembrance ceremonies.
She owes them respect, acknowledgement, and honour in death.
For Brigadier Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun and his wife, Latifat, that honour begins with a proper burial—and with finally answering a question that has haunted a family for six decades.
What Comes Next?
The question now lies before the nation: will Nigeria finally give one of her fallen heroes the dignity he deserves, or will this sacrifice remain acknowledged only in words, not in action?
Remembering a Sacrifice That Still Echoes After Six Decades
Sixty years have passed since Nigeria witnessed one of the most painful chapters in its early military history, yet the memory remains raw.
The killing of Brigadier Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun and his pregnant wife, Latifat, during Nigeria’s first military coup is not just a story from the past.
It is a reminder of loyalty, duty, and a sacrifice that continues to demand national reflection.
A Death That Became a Symbol of Patriotism
Time may dull many wounds, but some losses carry lessons that should never fade.
Brigadier Ademulegun’s death stands out not simply because of how it happened, but because of what it represented.
Faced with the chance to save his own life by compromising national security, he chose instead to uphold his oath as a soldier.
That decision, made in the face of death, remains one of the clearest expressions of patriotism in Nigeria’s military history.
A Nation in Crisis, a Family in Ruins
The night of January 15, 1966, plunged Nigeria into turmoil.
But beyond the national chaos was a deeply personal tragedy.
The Ademulegun family was torn apart in a single night.
While the country struggled to understand the aftermath of the coup, a young family was left shattered, their future violently erased.
For those left behind, especially the children, the event was not history—it was a lifelong nightmare.
Kaduna, January 15, 1966: The Night Everything Changed
Brigadier Ademulegun had retired for the night in his Kaduna home, alongside his wife who was eight months pregnant.
Their residence, located in a secure and well-guarded military area, offered no hint of the danger approaching.
Unaware of the unfolding coup across the country, the couple slept peacefully, believing themselves safe.
Betrayal at the Bedroom Door
That illusion of safety collapsed when a group of junior officers forced their way into his bedroom.
Leading them was Major Timothy Onwuatuegwu, a colleague and trusted friend of the family.
Shocked and alarmed, Ademulegun reportedly questioned how his friend had ended up in his bedroom at such an hour.
It was clear something was terribly wrong.
The Demand He Refused to Grant
The coup was already in motion.
The officers demanded the keys to the armoury, a critical step in advancing their plot.
For Brigadier Ademulegun, a Sandhurst-trained officer and one of the earliest members of the Nigerian Army, this was an impossible request.
Professionalism and loyalty to the nation were deeply ingrained in him.
Handing over weapons to junior officers seeking to overthrow the government was not an option.
A Final Attempt to Save Lives
In a desperate effort to calm the situation, Latifat Ademulegun stepped between her husband and the armed officers.
Her plea did not soften the moment.
She was shot and killed instantly.
Her husband, still refusing to surrender the armoury keys, was also murdered.
He was 42 years old. She was 38.
Their lives ended together, in the very room meant to be their place of rest.
Children Who Witnessed the Unthinkable
The killings happened in front of their young children.
Six-year-old Solape and four-year-old Adegoke were terrified by the gunshots they could not understand.
Their older brother, Bankole, then 13, rushed toward the noise but retreated in fear after seeing soldiers everywhere.
By morning, their parents’ bodies were taken away, and the children never saw them again—nor were they told where they were buried.
A Childhood Defined by Loss and Uncertainty
The aftermath of that night forced the Ademulegun children into a life of instability.
Passed from one relative or family friend to another, they grew up without parents and without answers.
While Nigeria grappled with the consequences of the coup, six children were left to navigate grief, confusion, and survival.
Six Children, Three Lives Lost Along the Way
Of the six children, three have since passed away, including Francis Bamidele, who followed his father’s footsteps into the military and rose to the rank of Group Captain in the Nigerian Air Force.
Bankole and Adekunle are also gone.
Those still living are Gbenga, Solape Ademulegun-Agbi, and Adegoke, each carrying the same unanswered questions.
Sixty Years Later, the Pain Remains
With the support of kind friends and by sheer resilience, the surviving children have built lives for themselves.
Yet, six decades later, the emotional wound remains open.
What troubles them most is Nigeria’s treatment of its heroes. Despite annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day observances on January 15, one critical question has never been answered.
An Unanswered Question That Refuses to Fade
Where were Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun and his wife, Latifat, buried?
Despite repeated appeals over the years, the family has received no clear response.
Private efforts to draw government attention to this unresolved matter have yielded nothing, leaving the family in painful uncertainty.
A Plea to the Nation and Its Leaders
As the 60th anniversary of their killing is marked, the children of Brigadier Ademulegun are asking for something simple but deeply meaningful: a proper, dignified burial for their parents.
They are appealing directly to President Bola Tinubu, the military high command, and the Nigerian state to honour a man who gave his life for the country at a critical moment in its history.
Why This Honour Still Matters
Brigadier Ademulegun’s sacrifice sends a powerful message.
Honouring him properly would reaffirm to serving officers and future generations that loyalty, professionalism, and sacrifice are valued—not forgotten.
It would show that Nigeria does not abandon those who laid down their lives in her defence.
Seeking Closure While Time Allows
For the children who watched their parents die, the trauma will never fully disappear.
But knowing where their parents were laid to rest would offer a measure of closure.
Sixty years on, while those children are still alive, they are simply asking for recognition, dignity, and truth.
A Simple Honour Long Overdue
Nigeria owes her heroes more than remembrance ceremonies.
She owes them respect, acknowledgement, and honour in death.
For Brigadier Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun and his wife, Latifat, that honour begins with a proper burial—and with finally answering a question that has haunted a family for six decades.
What Comes Next?
The question now lies before the nation: will Nigeria finally give one of her fallen heroes the dignity he deserves, or will this sacrifice remain acknowledged only in words, not in action?
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