“IBB’s Close Call: How a Civil War Bomb Nearly Took His Life”

Former Military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) has shared a harrowing experience from the Nigerian Civil War that nearly cost him his life. On March 27, 1969, while leading the 82 Battalion near Uzuakoli, Babangida’s unit came under heavy bombardment by Biafran forces. The attack involved the feared Biafran Obunigwe, a deadly weapon system used by the Biafrans during the war. These weapons ranged from improvised explosive devices to rocket-propelled missiles.

In his autobiography, A Journey in Service, Babangida vividly recounts how a shell from the Ogbunigwe struck him during the fierce fighting. He recalls that at the time, federal troops had shifted focus to Umuahia, and after a failed attempt by the Third Marine Commando to capture the city, Lt-Col. Danjuma was assigned the mission. Babangida, then a Major, commanded the 82 Battalion that was tasked with the invasion.

On March 27, while advancing through Uzuakoli, Babangida’s forces were bombarded relentlessly. Despite the heavy attacks, they managed to break through and get to the outskirts of the town. But their victory came at a great cost. The Biafran artillery intensified their bombardment, and it was during this moment of intense fighting that a Biafran Ogbunigwe shell struck Babangida. The blast sent shrapnel into the left side of his chest, narrowly missing his lung. Babangida later reflected on his luck, as the injury could have been far worse.

In his account, Babangida admits that initially, he didn’t realize he had been hit. Amid the chaos and ongoing firefight, he didn’t feel any pain at first. However, the overwhelming smell of burning flesh alerted him to the severity of the situation. He soon felt a sharp, throbbing pain and noticed blood seeping from his chest. As he began to feel numbness spreading through his legs, he collapsed. Command of his battalion was immediately taken over by Mamman Vatsa, one of his fellow commanders.

The process of evacuating Babangida was slow, as the makeshift runway lacked proper equipment. An emergency runway had to be constructed using a convoy of military vehicles, all lit up for visibility. Despite the pain, Babangida remained conscious and alert during his evacuation to Lagos University Teaching Hospital. His injury, though serious, did not dampen his spirits. He remained optimistic, understanding that this near-death experience would change his life forever.