SITUATION IN NIGERIA ( AS OF 8:30 A. M. EDT)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001100010054-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2006
• Sequence Number: 54
• Publication Date: July 30, 1966
• Content Type: IM

Approved For Reese 2006/0{
C1i00826A0100010054-4
99
No. 1625/66
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
30 July 1966
Situation in Nigeria
(Xs-ol-8:30 A.M.-EDT)
1. There have been no major changes in the
de facto situation in Western Nigeria since the
Sitrep of 5:30 P.M. yesterday. The international
airport at Ikeja on the outskirts of Lagos remains
in the hands of dissident Hausa military elements as
apparently do Abeokuta and Ibadan. The troops sent
from Lagos to attempt recovery of the airport reportedly
were ambushed en route and suffered heavy casualties.
Two Europeans caught up in this action were killed and
a third was wounded. No further information is avail-
able regarding Ironsi who may well be dead in Ibadan.
2. However, Army Brigadier Ogundipe and deputy
police chief Salem, who along with a British police
officer appear to be the key leaders of the military
government as it now exists, are not in a strong po-
sition militarily. Except for the national guard
company in Lagos, which probibly has no more than an
internal security capability, in the capital area,
there appear to be no reliable forces readily avail-
able to the regime. The Ikeja-based Second Battalion--
the closest important tactical unit--has evidently
disintegrated in bitter tribal fighting; its com-
mander has taken refuge with the police in the area.
The most potent force in all southern Nigeria, the
Second Reconnaissance Squadron at Abeokuta where the
mutiny first erupted, has apparently been taken over
by a dissident Hausa officer. Although the Fourth
Battalion in Ibadan is commanded by a non-Hausa north-
erner who would not automatically be in league with
the dissident Hausa elements, this unit has apparently
at least done nothing to check the mutiny. Other army
Approved For Release 2006/02/9 tf Q g0826AO01100010054-4