Today makes it 35 years exactly since Ibrahim Babangida narrowly èscaped the Gideon Orkar attempted cöup.

On Sunday, April 22, 1990, the attempted cöup occurred when a faction of offïcers of the ãrmed fōrces led by Major Gideon Orkar, sought to ovërthrow the government of General Ibrahim Babangida, who had seized power through the 1985 cōup.

Rébel tröops took cöntrol of the FRCN radio station and various mïlitary installations around Lagos, including the mïlitary headquarters and the presidential residence at Dodan Bārracks.

Babangida was present during the bärracks’ assäult but managed to escape through a rear exit. In his cöup address, Orkar called for the excision of five northern states from Nigeria and accüsed Babangida of plotting to declare himself Nigeria’s life president.

He also accüsed the Federal Mïlitary Government of the marginalization of the Niger Delta people and the entire southern region of the country. Babangida èscaped successfully, and fïghting stopped ten hours later, when senior mïlitary commanders elsewhere in the country announced their support for Babangida.

At least 42 men convïcted of involvement in the cöup attempt were execüted by fïring sqüad in July 1990.