The Soldier Who Wrote Nigeria’s First Coup

Before the guns were fired on January 15, 1966, before Nigeria’s First Republic collapsed, and before the country entered a new era of military rule, there were ideas — dangerous ideas, revolutionary ideas, and the belief that Nigeria could be saved by force. At the center of those ideas was Major Adewale Ademoyega. Unlike some of the more famous figures of Nigeria’s first military coup, Ademoyega was not remembered mainly for battlefield drama or public charisma. He was remembered as one of the intellectual forces behind the movement — a soldier shaped by books, politics, ideology, and a deep frustration with the corruption and crisis of the First Republic. But was he a patriot who wanted to rescue Nigeria? Was he a rebel who helped destroy democracy? Or was he a traitor whose actions opened the door to decades of military rule? This documentary explores the life, mind, and choices of Major Adewale Ademoyega — from his early years and education, to his role in the January 1966 coup, the collapse of the plot, the consequences that followed, and the difficult questions history still asks about him today. This is not just the story of one man. It is the story of how ideas became bullets… and how one generation of young officers changed Nigeria forever. Watch till the end and decide for yourself: Was Adewale Ademoyega a patriot, a rebel, or a traitor? If you enjoy deep Nigerian history, military documentaries, political stories, forgotten tragedies, and untold events that shaped the nation, subscribe to Naija Requiem for more powerful documentaries. Some stories never make the history books. Some questions were never meant to be answered. We dig them up. Topics covered in this documentary: Major Adewale Ademoyega January 15 1966 coup Nigeria’s first military coup First Republic Nigeria Nigerian Army history The Five Majors Kaduna Nzeogwu Emmanuel Ifeajuna Military rule in Nigeria Nigerian political history Forgotten Nigerian history Subscribe for more Nigerian historical documentaries: Naija Requiem — Nigeria’s Untold Stories Hashtags: #AdewaleAdemoyega #January1966Coup #NigerianHistory #NaijaRequiem #NigeriaFirstCoup #MilitaryHistory #TheFiveMajors #KadunaNzeogwu #NigerianArmy #NigeriaDocumentary #AfricanHistory #FirstRepublic #UntoldStories #HistoryDocumentary