Sir Ahmadu Bello, was the Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of the Northern region who was killed by mutinous soldiers led by the late Major Kaduna Chukwuma Nzeogwu on January 15, 1966, in his residence in Kaduna.

According to intelligence dispatches on the death of Ahmadu Bello, he was not in the main house but upstairs in the rear annex with his senior wife Habsatu; his second wife Goggon Kano, third wife Jabbo Birnin Kebbi and Sallama, a house retainer when Nzeogwu and his soldiers started breaking down doors asking for Sardauna.

They (Sardauna and his wives) listened and rattled prayer beads in fear for an hour as Nzeogwu and his motivated mutineers booted down doors, pumped bullets into guards mounting resistance, and shouted to others, “Ina Sardauna? Take us to the Sardauna.” It was dark, Sardauna and his wives went downstairs and into the courtyard connecting the annex and the main house. They were trying to escape.

On finding them, Nzeogwu shot the Sardauna and his senior wife who was trying to protect him; he was still serving as premier of Northern Nigeria at the time.

This was the first coup in the history of Nigeria, which heralded the rise of the military in the country’s politics. Also assassinated in the coup was his long-time friend Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa alongside many political elites in the north and the west

Satisfied with the death of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Major Kaduna then blew a whistle which was the agreed signal for all soldiers to converge at the rallying point at the front gate for the final onslaught on their symbol of national decay.

With the huge flame before him overpowering the harmattan and the night with an abundance of light and heat, Nzeogwu was satisfied his own unit’s assignment was a success.

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The death of Sir Ahmadu Bello also brought an abolishment of the position of Premier.