Q. 144: “You
made another entry on the 27th of May, 1966, what Mr. Richardson told a group
of Tiv and Hausa students?” “What I wrote in my diary is that Mr. Richardson
told us, thinking I was a Northerner, that if we protested against the Civil
Service decree, we would be taken to be fighting for a just cause and for our
right.”
Q. 146: “You
made another entry on the 28th of May?" “Yes Sir.” “Read it out
please" “Mr. Lawrence and some Northern students met at Aminu's room from
about 11 p.m to 2a.m. I noticed their presence at exactly 11.40 p.m. when I
went to borrow a book from Mr. Akpedeye living on the same floor. I kept watch
till 2 a.m when they came out and I saw them!!"
Q. 148: “How
does the mere fact that he lives on the same floor with Mr. Aminu make you see
them all?” “This is so because when I went to borrow a book a student told me
that Mr. Lawrence had just passed. When I looked at my time it was 11.40 p.m,
so I climbed up to the other floor and from there I saw people entering Mr.
Aminu’s room. Later on Mr. Lawrence came out and they locked the door behind
him. So we continued to watch when they will come out until a few minutes after
2 a.m.”
Q. 149: “And you saw them coming out?” “Yes.”
Q. 150: “You
made another entry on the 29th May, what was it?” “I made an entry to the
effect that “Northern Students went on demonstration."
Q. 151: “Before
the January coup was it usual for lecturers to go and lock themselves up with
students till late?" “Before the January coup we had not seen any lecturer
around the hostels unless perhaps in the dining hall or in the common room. But
after January 15th we started noticing their presence almost every time.”
Q. 153: “So
it was after that date that you started noticing?” “Yes, but even it was only some
lecturers and not all of them."
Q. 154: “Can
you give us an idea of the lecturers who used to visit the students?"
"It was only Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Richardson that we noticed during this
period."
Q. 155: “You were reading out your entry on the 29th?"
“Yes."
Q. 156: “Please
read it out now" "Northern students went on demonstration and later
in the day brought into the hostel foreign elements who stayed at different
places in the hostel."
Q. 157: “They brought in what?" "Strange people from the
town."
Q. 158: “Were
they strange faces or faces not known to you? “They were strange faces as they
were carrying daggers and bows and arrows."
Q. 160: “What
time did they leave?" “We did not know because after six o'clock the
number continued to increase, so we disappeared to different lecturers'
houses."
Q. 161: “You
said those strange elements continued to pour in until six o’clock when they
increased to such extent you had to leave the place?" “Yes."
Q. 163: "Where
did you go when you left?" “I went with Mr. Anthony Moghana, and we slept in
Mr. Woodman’s house."
Q. 164: "You
said that at six o'clock when the number grew to alarming proportion you left.
Did you leave alone or with others?” "With others. We contacted other
Eastern Nigeria students in other hostels and asked them to go where they would
be secure.”
Q. 165: "As
these strange faces arrived did they have dangerous weapons?" "Yes.
In fact one particular car made many trips bringing most of the weapons. We
took note of the car which was No. KAB 2427."
Q. 167: "Did
you find out who had that car?" "I did not find out who had that
car?" "Why" “l did not find out, but some people told me that it
was owned by someone working in the Provincial Office. I do not know his
name."
Q. 168: "Was
the fact of the presence of these foreign elements with their weapons brought
to the notice of the authorities?" “We reported to Mr. Lawrence that very
day. What he told us was that he had been assured that they will not touch any
of us. But later on he told another students that they were looking for Ibos,
and that since the student is from Mid-West he had nothing to fear."
Q. 169: "But
what did they explain to you was the purpose of their being in the
Campus?" "We could not go to ask."
Q. 170: "What
we mean is: Did you ask Mr. Lawrence what these people wanted in the
Campus?" “We did not ask him, but we told him that some people were coming
into the Campus with dangerous weapons and that he should phone the Army to
come and protect us. He assured us that we would not be harmed."
Q. 171: "Who
is this Mid-Westerner who said that Mr. Lawrence told him that they were
looking for Ibos?" "He is Mr. Patrick Oniha."
Q. 172: "By
the way, how many Mid-Westerners had you in the Institute?" "There
were about 8 Mid-Westerners. (There were 18 Eastern students at the Institute
and 200 at the University of Ahmadu Bello)."
Q. 173: "You
mentioned earlier on that you and Mr. Anthony Moghana slept in Mr. Woodman's
house that night. Who was this Mr. Woodman?" "He is one of the new
lecturers. He came during our last year in University and we know he was
detached from the local prejudices."
Q. 174: "What do you say is the name of the other
student?" “Anthony Moghana.”
Q. 175: "Where is he from?" “From Awka."
Q. 176: "You
and Mr. Moghana slept in Mr. Woodman's house and Mr. Woodman is a
lecturer?" "Yes."
Q. 177: "What nationality?” “He is an English man, newly
arrived in Nigeria."
Q. 178: “Where did other students sleep?" "They slept in
Mr. Cooper's house.”
Q. 179: "Who is Mr. Cooper?” “He is an American.”
Q. 181: "What
about the remaining students?” “Some slept in the house of some American
lecturers while others slept in the house of the man who is in-charge of
U.S.A.I.D. in Zaria.”
Q. 182: "So
they slept mostly in the houses of the American lecturers?" "Yes,
with the exception of myself and Mr. Anthony Moghana, the rest slept in
American lecturers' houses."
Q. 183: "What
is the relative proportion of American lecturers to lecturers of British
origin?" "The American lecturers are about six and the English
lecturers about 7 with only one Nigerian on the staff."
Q. 185: "For
how long did this sleeping out continue?' "For about three days - 29th,
30th and 31st of May."
Q. 186: "You
have just mentioned 30th of May, what happened that day?" "On that
day all Eastern students met Mr. Richardson and Mr. Lawrence who were directing
the operations against Southerners. They gave us no satisfactory reply. There
were requests for our protection. I had the opportunity to tell them that we
knew they were planning the thing. Later we spoke to Army Offices in a van and
they satisfied us."
Q. 188: "What
did they do when you told them you knew what they were planning?"
"Mr. Lawrence said that he would sue me."
Q. 189: "Was
it this same Lawrence or Richardson who tried to prevent you from sleeping
out?" "The same Lawrence."
Q. 190: "He
tried to prevent you from sleeping out?" "Yes, he tried to prevent us
from sleeping out. In fact, he went to Mr. Cooper asking him whether he was
hiding students!"
Q. 191: "Could
there have been any other reason why 16 of you chose to sleep with these American
lecturers in preference to British lecturers?" Were the Americans longer
in Zaria?” “No. Most of the were new people who were impartial because for the
period we stayed there, we knew that the English lecturers did not like those
of us from the East, so that we did not like going to sleep.”
Q. 192: “So you believed that the Americans were
impartial?” “Yes Sir.”
Q. 194: “There
is an entry at page 2 of the memorandum, under 29th May, 1966: “Mr. Lawrence
accompanied by S.S. Richardson came to the Hostel …. follow what they called a
peaceful demonstration.” This gives the impression that Mr. Lawrence and Mr.
Richardson actually took part in the demonstration?” “Yes, they did because
this student asked to join the peaceful demonstration is an Easterner and when
they told him, he told them that he was not prepared to follow any
demonstration.”
Q. 202: “We
have just heard your entry for 30th May. Any other entry for May? “Yes, there
is 31st - Hausas attacked the compound,
wounded many but no student was wounded though two escaped narrowly.”
Q. 203: “Do
you remember the names of the two?” “Yes, Mr. Nkwoada. The other fellow is from
the Mid-West. He was a first year student. I do not know his name.”
Q. 204: “When
you say “attacked and wounded many” who were the attackers if they were not
students?” “The Hausas came from the town and entered the compound and if they
saw anybody they shouted ‘Kai Yamiri’ and if you tried to run away they knew
you were an Easterner and would attack.”
Q. 205: “Were
there no other Easterners in the compound other than students?" "Yes,
there were others, some of them were cooks and personal servants to some
lecturers. On the same day. what I wrote here is "Peter Osuji, driver, was
attacked and killed. "
Q. 206: "On
the college premises?" "Yes. on the road."
Q. 207: "who
was he?" "He was a driver in the U.S.A.l.D."
Q. 208: "To
the USAID?" "Yes. Sir."
Q. 209: "Is
the USAID stationed there in the Institute?" "Yes. it is stationed
there."
Q. 210: "Did
you see his body?" “Yes I saw his body from the library. The library is
just near the road. If you looked outside you would see what was happening. The
time they attacked was in the night. They could not get us in the morning. They
came in morning at about 11 o’clock. By then most of us were in the
library."
Q. 212: "This
Peter Osuji was an Easterner?" "Yes, he was an Easterner from Orlu
Division."
Q. 213: "How
many persons of Eastern Nigeria origin or even Mid-West origin in the Institute
were killed that day?" "The other cook was wounded and then rushed to
the hospital. Because he was being taken to the hospital, the attackers
followed and then killed many patients and even some workers."
Q. 225: “You
made another entry on the 1st of June, 1966?" “Yes."
Q. 226: "What
was it?" "Mr. Richardson said that there was trouble in Kano, Zaria
and Kaduna and this proves that the Military Government has failed."
Q. 231: “Did
any of your lecturers encourage you to remain in the North, for example
Richardson and Lawrence?" "No, when we told them that we know what
they were planning they started to avoid us. In fact they did not see us until
the day the result came out and we were leaving."
Q. 234: “Now,
to your knowledge, did the authorities of the University, or any of them,
object to the bringing 0f weapons and looted property into the campus?"
“None of them objected, even when we made a report that some students brought
in looted property to the campus, there was nothing heard about it."
Q. 235: “Did
any of the lecturers disagree with the action of authorities at the
Institute?" "Yes, one Mr. Bannerman, a Ghananian, reported the matter
to the military authorities in Zaria and then left untimely. He had three years
contract with the University, but after the May incident, he went and made a
report to the military authorities and then from there he left."
Q. 236: "What
you are saying is that some lecturers did not approve of what was going on at
the Institute?" "Yes, Sir."
Q. 238: "Do
you know when he resigned his appointment?" “On the 12th of June,
1966."
Q. 241: “Did
any other lecturer show a similar interest in the plight of the
Easterners?" “Mr. X was also going to the military authorities in Zaria
from time to time to report what was going on."
Q. 242: “Who is Mr. X?" “He is and American lecturer."
Q. 243: “Who did he report to?" “To the Lt. Col. in
charge."
Q. 244: “To your knowledge?" "Yes."
Q. 247: "Has
Mr. X shown any more interest in your plight?" “Yes, he came here some two
weeks ago to see some of us who have graduated. He told me that he is no longer
popular in the North and that when coming to the East he took the Western route
and came through the Mid-West and when going back he took the same route."
Q. 250: “I
would like to ask whether you have any more information you would like to
volunteer?" "The only information l have is that when Major Boyle was
deported from the Samaru Compound Mr. Richardson was about to be deported. But
according to information we gathered that all the English lecturers and some
top civil servants protested that if Mr. Richardson went all of them would
leave en masse. It was then that Lt. Col. Hassan arranged to come and see the
lecturers at the Institute of Administration. On the day he came he did not
want to meet the Americans, he met only the Englishmen. We did not know why
that was so."
Q. 253: "Just
finally, did any other incident relating to these events strike you as important
enough to be noted in this Exhibit L10.3?" "My diary says: "On
the 24th of June, 1966, before I left Zaria I met Lt. Col. Akagha and explained
to him what happened in the Institute of Administration. I also gave him a copy
of our memorandum. He wanted to see Mr. Akiri."
Q. 254: “Where is Mr. Akiri?" "He is working in the
U.A.C. at Port Harcourt now."
Q. 255: “How
did Lt. Col. Akagha react?" "When we gave him our memorandum he was
surprised that Mr. Richardson was still in Nigeria. From the report he made to
Lagos Mr. Richardson was included among those to be repatriated."
Q. 256: "Were
there any students of Eastern Nigeria origin in Ahmadu Bello University
proper?" “Yes."
Q. 257: "In
1966?" "Yes. There were about 200 of them." We also reproduce
hereunder the Memorandum dated the 16th June, 1966 submitted by the Students of
the Institute of Administration Samaru to the then Supreme Commander of the
Nigerian Armed Forces Major-General J.T.U.Aguiyi Ironsi and endorsed to the
Military Governors of the Regions (then called Groups of Provinces). This
Memorandum was submitted as Exhibit L10/2.
Institute of
Administration,
Ahmadu Bello
University,
Zaria.
16th June,
1966.
"His
Excellency,
Major General
J. T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi,
Supreme
Commander and Head of The National Military Government,
Republic of
Nigeria, Lagos.
Copy to the
Provincial Military Governors.
Your
Excellency Sir,
MEMORANDUM BY THE STUDENTS OF INSTITUTE OF
ADMINISTRATION AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY. ZARIA - S0UTHERN ORIGIN.
We, the
students of the above Institution consider it necessary to help the Military
Government to probe into the recent disturbances in the Northern provinces.
It is almost
unbelievable that some expatriate lecturers and people in such positions were
solely responsible for formenting the recent disturbances.
Soon after the
Government of Nigeria was handed over to the Armen Forces, Mr. S. S.
Richardson, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Director of the Institute of
Administration in one of his circulars to staff and students said that "It
was expected that after Salah festival there will be an uprising." This
and such like statements were calculated to incite the students, particularly
of Northern origin. In another address to the students he said that it would be
surprising if somebody like the late Premier of the North would die in such a
circumstance and there will be no reactions.
At this
period, members of the N.P.C. Youth club held meetings at night. This was
reported to Mr. S. S. Richardson but he said that the students were holding law
society meeting. The law society meeting he referred to ended earlier before
the other meeting which continued till early hours of the morning. It was
discovered that the purpose of the meeting was to take the lives of students of
Southern origin. Since Mr Richardson refused to probe into the allegation or
provide protection for students, the matter was on the 21st of January, 1966
reported to the Commanding Officer of the Zaria Army Detachment. The Officer sent
in soldiers from time to time at night.
Immediately
after the broadcast of the 24th May, 1966. Mr, Richardson told groups of
students that if they protested against the 'measures of the Military
Government, they would be considered as defending their right and fighting for
a good cause'.
The following
sequence of events took place till 1st June:-
25th May, 1966:- We became
aware that Hall Master Mr. Lawrence Institute of Administration, was meeting
with a section of the Northern students. On this day they met at about 1.45
p.m. in Hostel 1 Room 29/30. The students present were Murtala Aminu, Paul
Anyebe, Muhammed Arzika, B. 0thman, G. B. Homkwap.
28th May, 1966: Mr. Lawrence
and the students mentioned above met again for a short period during the
afternoon. It was at this time we observed that one business student from the
University of Lagos, Mallam Mailhanu who
was once the secretary of the N.P.C. Youths Club was present. They met again at
night from about 11.40 p.m. – about 2 a.m.
29th May, 1966: Mr. Lawrence
accompanied by Mr. S. S. Richardson Institute of Administration, came to Hostel
1, at this time they talked to Mr. Anyebe and Murtala Aminu. At about 9.30 a.m.
these two students led other Northern students out on demonstration. At the
junction of a petrol station, Mr. Lawrence in the presence of Mr. Richardson,
both accompanying the demonstrating students asked a student Mr. Kalu Akiri to
follow what he called a peaceful demonstration.
At about 2
p.m. the students came back, two of them Ibrahim Omale and Mohammed Goni
carrying looted property into the Hostel. Mohammed Anka boasted in the dining
hall of setting a petrol station on fire and burning a ‘mighty shop’. This was
confirmed by others who went out on demonstration.
Between 3 p.m.
and 5 p.m. a car No. KAB 2427 started bringing into the Institute of
Administration people carrying daggers, bows and arrows. We met Mr. Lawrence
who is the Hostel master and complained about what we saw, asking him to
telephone the army to provide us with protection. He told us that he has been
assured that we would not be harmed. Later he told a student, Patrick Oniha
that he had nothing to fear that ‘those people were looking for Ibos only’.
When these number of people carrying daggers increased in the compound, we left
hostels secretly and slept with the lecturers we know are not involved. Later that
night Mr. Richardson came to Mr. Cooper (American lecturer) asking him whether
he was hiding some students. Mr. Cooper denied despite the fact that five of us
were there.
30th May, 1966: Mr. Lawrence
in class told Northern students that many southern students slept with
lecturers, the previous night. The tension continued and students of Northern
origin shouted slogans. We went to Mr. Richardson to tell him what was
happening in his compound and requested him to call in the soldiers to protect
few of us, he refused saying that even if he called them they would not come and
that students were in worse danger on the 29th than on the 30th.
When we knew
that Mr. Richardson had finally refused to help, we left his house and on
coming out met an army patrol van. We called them and explained the situation
to them. The soldiers later came back and patrolled the compound.
31st May, 1966: Hundreds of
natives came into the compound for ‘Ibo students’ and shouting slogans. They carried
daggers and bows and arrows. We saw that Mr. Richardson did nothing to stop
these people rather he talked to people in an open van who were shouting
slogans with a loud speaker. We locked ourselves indoors all day. The same
night some natives surrounded Mr. Cooper’s house threatened to burn down the
house if he failed to bring out those he was hiding. Compared with the question
Mr. Richardson asked Mr. Cooper on the 29th, we discovered that either Mr.
Richardson or Mr. Lawrence or their fellow organisers told the people about
students in Mr. Cooper’s house.
On the 1st
June at the Faculty of Law Quadrangle, Mr. Richardson said that there had been
disturbances everywhere in Nigeria which showed that the Military had failed.
In conclusion,
we express surprise to see that some expatriates, all of them old English
District Officers have been inciting both students of Northern origin and other
Northerners against the Government and other sections of Nigeria without any
fear or respect to the Government. We therefore give this information to the
Government to take appropriate steps to end the activities of these subversive
foreign elements.
We are,
For and on
behalf of Students of
Southern
Origin in the Institute of Administration,
Zaria.
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