The Arrest of Lt-Col. Buka Suka Dimka After the 1976 Coup Attempt

One of the most dramatic moments in Nigeria’s political history occurred in February 1976, when a failed military coup resulted in the assassination of Nigeria’s Head of State, Murtala Ramat Muhammed. The central figure behind the coup attempt was Buka Suka Dimka, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian Army whose actions triggered a nationwide crisis and one of the most intense manhunts in the country’s military history.
A well-known photograph from that period shows Dimka smiling while being handcuffed after his arrest. The image captures the moment the Nigerian authorities finally apprehended the officer whose failed uprising had shaken the nation.

The Coup That Shocked Nigeria

On 13 February 1976, a group of soldiers attempted to overthrow the Nigerian military government. At the time, Nigeria was under the leadership of General Murtala Muhammed, who had become Head of State after the overthrow of Yakubu Gowon in July 1975.
Muhammed’s administration had quickly gained public attention for its bold reforms, including anti-corruption measures and plans to return Nigeria to civilian rule. However, not all members of the military were satisfied with the pace and direction of his policies.
During the coup attempt, soldiers loyal to Dimka ambushed the Head of State’s motorcade in Lagos, which was Nigeria’s capital at the time. Muhammed was assassinated during the attack, sending shockwaves across the country.
Following the killing, Dimka and his collaborators attempted to seize control of the government.

Dimka’s Broadcast to the Nation

Shortly after the attack, Dimka made a radio broadcast explaining the reasons behind the coup attempt. In his message, he accused the government of corruption, poor leadership, and administrative weakness.
He also criticised what he described as arbitrary arrests and detentions without trial, claiming these issues justified the overthrow of the military government. However, the broadcast failed to convince the majority of the Nigerian military.
Key military units across the country remained loyal to the government, and the coup attempt began to collapse within hours.

Collapse of the Plot

Although the conspirators succeeded in assassinating the Head of State, they failed to gain control of strategic military commands and communication centres. Loyal troops quickly regained control of major installations in Lagos and other cities.
Senior military officers moved swiftly to stabilise the situation and prevent further unrest. Eventually, leadership of the country passed to Olusegun Obasanjo, who assumed power as Head of State following the death of Muhammed.
As order returned, the Nigerian authorities launched an intensive search for Dimka and other coup plotters who had gone into hiding.

The Manhunt and Arrest

After realising that the coup had failed, Dimka fled Lagos in an attempt to evade capture. Security forces across Nigeria began a large-scale manhunt to locate him.
Reports from the period indicate that he was eventually arrested in eastern Nigeria after several days on the run. Contemporary media accounts claimed he was captured while in the company of a woman described as a prostitute, though this detail mainly appeared in newspaper reports and is sometimes treated cautiously by historians.
Regardless of the circumstances, his arrest marked the end of the coup leader’s attempt to escape justice.

Trial and Execution

Following his capture, Dimka and several other suspects were tried before a military tribunal. The trial focused on the assassination of the Head of State and the attempted overthrow of the Nigerian government.
The tribunal found Dimka and many of his collaborators guilty. In total, about 38 military officers and civilians connected to the plot were sentenced to death.
The executions were carried out by firing squad in March 1976, making it one of the largest sets of executions in Nigeria’s military history.

Legacy of the 1976 Coup Attempt

The assassination of Murtala Muhammed deeply affected Nigeria. Although he ruled for only about six months, he had gained widespread popularity for his decisive leadership and reform agenda.
After the coup attempt failed, Olusegun Obasanjo continued Muhammed’s policies, including the plan to transition Nigeria back to civilian government. That process eventually led to the establishment of the Second Republic in 1979.
Today, the events of February 1976 remain one of the most significant turning points in Nigeria’s political and military history. The photograph of Dimka being handcuffed after his arrest stands as a powerful reminder of a moment when the country narrowly avoided further political instability.

Sources

Drum Magazine Archives (1976)

Nigerian military historical records on the 1976 coup attempt

Historical documentation on the assassination of Murtala Muhammed

Archival Nigerian newspaper reports on the Dimka trial and executions