Samuel Ademulegun | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 October 1924 Ondo, Southern Region, British Nigeria |
| Died | 15 January 1966 (aged 41) Kaduna, Nigeria |
| Allegiance |  British Empire Nigeria |
| Service/ |  Nigerian Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1966 |
| Rank |  Brigadier |
| Unit | 1st Brigade |
| Commands held | Nigerian Army 1st Brigade, Kaduna |
Brigadier Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun (20 October 1924 – 15 January 1966) was a Nigerian Army officer, he was Commander[1] of the 1st brigade during the January 1966 coup.
He was born on 20 October 1924 in Ondo Town, Western Nigeria, and was considered one of the country's finest officers at the time.[2] The son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ademulegun, he had his early education in Ondo state before joining the Nigerian Army as a private in 1942.[3] Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun was married to Mrs. Latifat Feyisitan Abike Ademulegun (nee Noble) who was also known as Sisi Nurse, he was killed cold-bloodedly during the January 1966 coup. He was survived by his daughter Mrs. Solape Ademulegun-Agbi, Bankole, Kunle, Gbenga, Goke, and his oldest son Frank Bamidele who later enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force where he rose to the rank of Group Captain before he died in 2002.[4]
Ademulegun was commissioned in 1949 and was one of the senior Officer Corps of the army along with Aguiyi Ironsi, Zakariya Maimalari and Babafemi Ogundipe. He was among those vying for the top army post of GOC in 1965 upon the retirement of the expatriate GOC. He was considered friendly with Ahmadu Bello which brought distaste to some junior officers who frowned at their commander fraternizing with politicians.
Ademulegun and his wife were killed while in bed during the 1966 coup when they were shot by rebels led by Timothy Onwuatuegwu, an instructor at the Nigerian Military Training College.[5][6] In an eyewitness account of the murder of Samuel Ademulegun by his daughter, Mrs. Solape Ademulegun-Agbi, she narrates how her father was killed by military officers. Her account provides details of the invasion and gruesome murder of the former General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1st Division in Kaduna state. Killed in what is considered Nigeria's first coup, the perpetrators are recorded to be ridding the country of corrupt politicians and those who were close to them.[7]