Victor Banjo

Victor Adebukunola Banjo (1 April 1930 – 22 September 1967) was a colonel in the Nigerian Army. He fought in the Biafran Army during the Nigerian Civil War. Banjo was accused of being a coup plotter against Nigerian Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa by the government of Aguyi Ironsi. Three days after Aguiyi-Ironsi came to power, Banjo was summoned to the office of the Supreme Military Commander and was arrested while he was still waiting to see the head of state. Banjo, a Yoruba, attempted to defend a Yoruba officer, but was arrested by Lieutenant Colonel G. T. Kurubo and Major P. A. Anwuna and imprisoned by General Aguiyi-Ironsi. He was accused of planning to kill the head of state. Banjo proclaimed his innocence, but was denied a trial. It is suspected that Banjo was detained because it was thought that he had a hand in the 1966 coup. The coup had inflamed tribal passions and divided the military. Banjo was detained in various prisons between January 1966 and May 1967. Northern Army leaders successfully carried out a counter-coup against Aguiyi-Ironsi, an Igbo. Ironsi and Colonel Fajuyi, Governor of the Western Region, were killed.

Biafra, civil war and death

When Biafra was proclaimed on 30 May 1967, Banjo was released from an Eastern Nigerian prison by President Odumegwu Ojukwu and promoted to colonel. When the Nigerian Army invaded Biafra on 6 July 1967, Ojukwu sent Banjo and Major Albert Okonkwo to invade Nigeria. Banjo was able to capture Benin City in less than a day and was able to get within 300 kilometers of then-capital Lagos. After Banjo was repulsed at the Battle of Ore, he and other officers (Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Phillip Alale, and Sam Agbam) were accused of plotting a coup against Ojukwu. After a hurried trial, that some authors characterized as biased, they were found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. They were executed by firing squad on 22 September 1967.