Do Know What Happened On Feb 13th 1976?

Friday the 13th, particularly when it occurs in February, is deemed a very unlucky day in Western superstition. For certain, a lot of people in the Europe and America have come to believe the day holds a lot of ill luck. Hollywood has even produced horror film franchises based on the theme. The superstition like many others, have been strengthened by individual claims of some ill event like a sack, divorce or accident happening to them either on a February 13th or a Friday the 13th. The word, friggatriskaidekaphobia, meaning, the fear of Friday the 13th derived its origins in Norse mythology.

Despite insufficient proof to support the ill-fated day, Friday, 13 February 1976 sticks out in Nigeria’s history as a day that brought a string of bad fortune to many in Nigeria. Nigeria’s Head of State was brutally assassinated on his way to his office on that fateful day. His unescorted Mercedes Benz car was riddled with bullets killing all four passengers including General Murtala Mohammed.

Luck also ran out on the perpetrators of the coup as it was botched by troops loyal to Mohammed’s regime. Buka Dimka, his sponsors and accomplices were summarily rounded up and shot in a firing squad weeks after the coup.

The most tragic tale from this Friday the 13th saga was the erroneous arrest and execution of one Col. A.D.S Wya for complicity in the coup. At the time of his arrest, Colonel Wya had been the Commander of the Corps of the Artillery and an accomplished wartime hero. His story is most unfortunate because his British wife had sought even the assistance of her home government to prove her husband’s innocence to no avail. In the end, Wya was executed. Col. Wya among a host of other officers and men were later exonerated from plotting and participating in the Dimka coup. But it was now too late. Having lost all hope and sensibility, Mrs. Wya drove into a train in Kaduna killing herself and her four children. Col. Way’s disconsolate younger brother equally committed suicide at the demise of his brother.

Indeed Friday, February 13th 1976 should never be forgotten in Nigeria

Unescorted Mercedes benz , unlike now.

...unlike now they move around with a full battalion...

hmmmmm nawa ooo nd in 2015 we march for change

Today was a tsunami-type sack where I work.

austino3050:
...unlike now they move around with a full battalion...

Yes! thats why!!

its February 13th again..lalasticlala i think you might like this

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THAT DAY IS THAT I CAME INTO THIS WORLD!

Why should it be important and why should we care?

Ok oh

Yes

A lot of horrible past about this nation called Nigeria

With all this rumours that people want buhari dead....im escort go be armoured tank when I'm return

There is a popular Sunny Ade song that goes

Ojo iketala Oshu Keji Odun 1976, Ojo buruku Eshu mu omi ni

Meaning

The 13th day of the 2nd month of 1976, it is such a terrible devilish day

Hmm. May we not see evil.

Amen.

Now remember the movie "76".

Nice history

I heard he was a very fetish man. That he was almost a babalawo and that gave him false confidence. No be me talk am o..

Ahmeduana:
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THAT DAY IS THAT I CAME INTO THIS WORLD!

chai u be really big for nothing

I feel pity for the Wya family

...she shouldn't have involve her children. Sad.

wow...see presidential 'motor'......smh for our generation

The last story is very tragic and touching. why the speedy executions? Nigeria has always been a zoo... Not a country...

MURITALA RAMAT MUHAMMED

The only person I have empathy for is the Wya family.
As for Murtala,I'm sure satan is raping him wtout lubrication for d Asaba genocide.

Who cares?

Op, thanks for bringing this to my knowledge.
Thank you

Thanks for sharing.
History is no longer being taught in schools.

HBD

Ahmeduana:
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THAT DAY IS THAT I CAME INTO THIS WORLD!

.

Hope you're exempted?

Mikeloo:
Today was a tsunami-type sack where I work.