Adekunle Fajuyi | Early life, Career & many more
Adekunle Fajuyi was the first military governor of the western region of Nigeria and a victim of the July 28, 1966 coup. He was born on July 26, 1926, in Ado Ekiti.
Profile Summary
- Name: Adekunle Fajuyi
- Date of Birth: July 26, 1926
- Death: July 28, 1966
- Citizenship: Nigerian
- Ethnicity: Black
- Place of Birth: Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
- Aged: 40 years
Education
Fajuyi studied at St. George’s catholic school, Ado Ekiti, before enrolling at the army training school, Yaba.
Adekunle Fajuyi – Career
Fajuyi joined the army in 1943 as a sergeant with the Nigeria Signal Squadron. He was trained in Nigeria and the United Kingdom and rose to become the commander of the 1st battalion in Enugu. After the January 1966 coup, Fajuyi was posted to Abeokuta as a garrison commander.
He was appointed the first military governor of the western region after General Ironsi became the head of state.
Personal Life
Fajuyi was married to Eunice Ayodele Fajuyi that died on July 12, 2013. The pair had a son, Donald Olufemi.
Adekunle Fajuyi – Death
Fajuyi was shot and killed by coup plotters on July 29 1966.
The July 29 coup was planned by Major T.Y Danjuma (General Staff Officer II, SHQ), Lt. Col. Murtala Muhammed, (inspector of signal), and Martins Adamu.
Troops of the 4th battalion cordoned the Government house Ibadan on July 29, 1966.
Colonel Fajuyi, Lt. Nwankwo, and General Aguiyi Ironsi were arrested and abducted on the orders of Major T.Y Danjuma.
Danjuma, who was accompanying General Ironsi on a nationwide tour to Ibadan, was the one who led the troops of the 4th battalion to the government house in Ibadan.
Col. Fajuyi was not the target but immediately became a victim; the troops arrived at the government house.
He was beating mercilessly right from the government house before the three were driven out of the government’s house in three separate vans led by Lt. William Walbe.
They drove towards Iwo road before the three were forced down and led toward a farm in Lalupo before Lt. Nwankwo escaped.
Fajuyi and Ironsi were shot immediately after Nwankwo’s daring escape by the coup plotters.
Source: Dakingsman
