By Nehi Igbinijesu.
Many names like Yakubu Gowon, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, Olusegun Obasanjo, Murtala Mohammed and Theophilus Danjuma stand out in the Nigerian polity today. They became Generals at some point in their military careers and led political administrations for which they are remembered. These men also shared the commonality of being key actors in the Nigerian Civil War. In this class of chivalry, none of these men compared to the legendary General Benjamin Adekunle known as the ‘Black Scorpion’.
Born in Kaduna to an Ogbomoso father and Bachama mother, Adekunle had his primary and secondary education at Zaria and Okene respectively. He left the Government College Okene in 1958 from where he enlisted to the Nigerian Army. He was dispatched to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an Officer cadet and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on 15 December 1960. Benjamin Adekunle began his career in the 1st Battalion Enugu but only came to the limelight on his appointment as Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of the Eastern Region, Sir Akanu Ibiam in 1962. In May 1965, he was appointed Adjutant- General of Army Headquarters, a post he held for a few months.
In late 1966, Lt. Col Adekunle was posted to the Lagos Garrison from where he was assigned to lead an historic two- battalion amphibious assault on Bonny on 26 July 1968, after the outbreak of the civil war. The Bonny landing was such a success that Adekunle was promoted to the rank of Colonel.
The success of Adekunle’s battalions in Ikot Ekpene, Burutu, Escravos, Urhonigbe and Owa led the Army to secondment of one of his battalions, (the 6th Battalion under the leadership of Major Gibson Jalo) to Murtala Mohammed’s 2nd Division. This development did not go well with Adekunle. Having to lead the remaining battalion from Escravos felt like a demotion for which he protested to Army Headquarters. At his insistence, the Lagos Garrison was upgraded to a brigade and composed as part of a new Division. Hence, the newly formed 3rd Infantry Division was composed of the Lagos Garrison and the 31 and 32 Battalions.
According to his biography, The Nigeria- Biafra Letters; A Soldier’s Story, Colonel Adekunle did not think the name “3 Infantry Division” was sensational enough nor did it project the nature of the unique terrain in which his men had to fight. And so, without formal approval from Army Headquarters, he renamed the division, the 3 Marine Commando (3MCDO)
The Black Scorpion won the admiration of his men in and out of battle. Many of those alive today remember him for his active participation beyond the war planning room. Many would easily agree that he was a ‘dogged fighter’. And, his achievements during the war single him out as the most mythologized military figure in Nigerian history.
Succeeded at his command of the 3 Marine Commando by Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo, the Black Scorpion and his men were largely responsible for a unity we struggle so hard to keep today.
He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier- General in 1972 and retired on 20 August 1974.
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This article was first published on 8th October 2012
Comments (2)
Many names like Yakubu Gowon, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, Olusegun Obasanjo, Murtala Mohammed and Theophilus Danjuma stand out in the Nigerian polity today. They became Generals at some point in their military careers and led political administrations for which they are remembered. These men also shared the commonality of being key actors in the Nigerian Civil War. In this class of chivalry, none of these men compared to the legendary General Benjamin Adekunle known as the ‘Black Scorpion’.
Born in Kaduna to an Ogbomoso father and Bachama mother, Adekunle had his primary and secondary education at Zaria and Okene respectively. He left the Government College Okene in 1958 from where he enlisted to the Nigerian Army. He was dispatched to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an Officer cadet and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on 15 December 1960. Benjamin Adekunle began his career in the 1st Battalion Enugu but only came to the limelight on his appointment as Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of the Eastern Region, Sir Akanu Ibiam in 1962. In May 1965, he was appointed Adjutant- General of Army Headquarters, a post he held for a few months.
In late 1966, Lt. Col Adekunle was posted to the Lagos Garrison from where he was assigned to lead an historic two- battalion amphibious assault on Bonny on 26 July 1968, after the outbreak of the civil war. The Bonny landing was such a success that Adekunle was promoted to the rank of Colonel.
The success of Adekunle’s battalions in Ikot Ekpene, Burutu, Escravos, Urhonigbe and Owa led the Army to secondment of one of his battalions, (the 6th Battalion under the leadership of Major Gibson Jalo) to Murtala Mohammed’s 2nd Division. This development did not go well with Adekunle. Having to lead the remaining battalion from Escravos felt like a demotion for which he protested to Army Headquarters. At his insistence, the Lagos Garrison was upgraded to a brigade and composed as part of a new Division. Hence, the newly formed 3rd Infantry Division was composed of the Lagos Garrison and the 31 and 32 Battalions.
According to his biography, The Nigeria- Biafra Letters; A Soldier’s Story, Colonel Adekunle did not think the name “3 Infantry Division” was sensational enough nor did it project the nature of the unique terrain in which his men had to fight. And so, without formal approval from Army Headquarters, he renamed the division, the 3 Marine Commando (3MCDO)
The Black Scorpion won the admiration of his men in and out of battle. Many of those alive today remember him for his active participation beyond the war planning room. Many would easily agree that he was a ‘dogged fighter’. And, his achievements during the war single him out as the most mythologized military figure in Nigerian history.
Succeeded at his command of the 3 Marine Commando by Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo, the Black Scorpion and his men were largely responsible for a unity we struggle so hard to keep today.
He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier- General in 1972 and retired on 20 August 1974.
General Benjamin Adekunle (Rtd), a.k.a The Black Scorpion, you are truly a legend and gallant officer in the Nigerian Army whom is worthy of emulation by someone like me that is passionate and determine to be enlisted into the Nigerian Army by the Grace of Almighty God to defend our father land and as well step into shoes of people like you and others who forth tirelessly to ensure that the unity and sovereignty of NIGERIA is compromise.Your legacy would be an inspirations to we the younger once that choose military as a career.
Long live Heroes of the Nigerian Armed Forces
Long live NIGERIA, the most develop and industrialize Nation of the World.
EXCELLENT WRITE UP. THE MAN IS A LEGEND