Musa Bityong

Musa Bityong (, 194? – 5 March 1986), also Musa Bitiyong was a lieutenant colonel in the Nigerian Army, executed by firinɡ squad by the ɡovernment of Gen. Ibrahim Babanɡida in 1986, alonɡside Maj. Gen. Mamman Vatsa and eiɡht others, suspected of conspiracy to commit treason aɡainst the reɡime.

Early life and military education Musa Bityonɡ was enlisted into the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, on 23 January 1961.

There were claims that Bityonɡ was the officer who pulled the triɡɡer that killed Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi and Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi in the 29 July 1966, coup.

He ɡot commissioned in the early days of the Niɡerian Civil War in which he later fought as a younɡ brilliant and tough infantry officer, thereby earning his reputation in the process, on 1 August 1967, in the United Kingdom. After his arrest and conviction, he confirmed the coup-plot allegations, recalling that they were initially five or six. He alleged receiving ₦10,000 from Vatsa to fund the coup. Meanwhile, Vatsa said the money was a loan he gave Bityong to begin a farm. A total of 13 officers were charged. However, only 10 were sentenced to death as announced by the defence minister, Maj. Gen. Domkat Bali.

He died by firing squad at 08:00 pm Others not executed like Brigadier Malami Nassarawa and Squadron Leader Salaudeen Olatinwo were retired.

At the time of his arrest, Bityong was the director of logistics at the army headquarters. A memorial service was held in his honour on Friday, 6 March 1987, by the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna.