General Murtala Ramat Mohammed (November 8, 1938 – February 13, 1976) was a Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria from 1975 until his assassination in 1976. He was born 8th November 1938 in the Kurawa Quarters of Kano City. He enrolled into the Nigerian Army after high school, and trained at Sandhurst Royal Academy, the Catterick School of Signals, and the Joint Services' Staff College, all in England.
General Mohammed and the Civil War
During the Civil War, Mohammed was General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army’s 2nd Division.. This division was responsible for the legendary beating back of the Biafran Army from the midwestern region, as well as crossing the River Niger and linking up with the 1st Division, which was marching down from Nsukka and Enugu.
Mohammed's encounter with disaster during the war happened shortly after, as he attempted to cross the River Niger to Biafra. Despite the recommendation of his superiors at Army Headquarters in Lagos that he wait for the bridge, which had been blown up by the retreating Biafran forces, to be rebuilt, he insisted on a riverine crossing. Twice he was beaten back, but he steadfastly kept resolve and finally made it through on his third attempt. Shortly after this, Mohammed fed up with reprimands from Army HQ, decided to quit his command and left for an extended holiday in the United Kingdom, but not before threatening to resign his commission. His historic military fits during the war won him National acclaim and respect even from his adversaries.
