Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (Rtd), has narrated his harrowing experience of being shot by Biafran soldiers during the Nigerian Civil War, an event that not only reshaped his military career but also led him to settle down in marriage.
In his book, “A Journey in Service,” Babangida detailed his near-fatal injury and the subsequent reflections that brought about a significant turning point in his personal life.
According to him, the Nigerian Army placed a high premium on stable family life, which played a role in shaping his decision to marry.
“The army did not issue me with a wife, but it did make it abundantly clear that having one would assist in quick and steady career advancement,” Babangida wrote.
“In the aftermath of my first close encounter with mortality during the Civil War, I determined that establishing the foundations of a stable family life was now a priority.”
Babangida revealed that his relationship with his late wife, Maryam, née Maria Okogwu, began long before the war but took a decisive turn after his injury.
He traced their early connection to Bida, where he first met her through a mutual acquaintance, his close friend and fellow soldier, Garba Duba.
“I was close to Duba and first met Maria while we were both still at Provincial Secondary School in Bida. She was stunning. Her ebony beauty set off enchanting eyes, and her dazzling smile showed off a lovely set of teeth; when she smiled – and she often smiled – her face lit up, and her eyes danced.”
Babangida recounted how, after his training in the United Kingdom in 1967, he returned to Nigeria as war loomed.
He was deployed to the battlefield, where he sustained a life-threatening injury in April 1969 during an advance towards Umuahia.
“Upon my return, I was immediately posted to the war front and saw action in several arenas. In April 1969, during our advance towards Umuahia, I was shot, and a piece of shrapnel was lodged in the right side of my chest. I was fortunate to be speedily evacuated to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, in Lagos.”
His time in the hospital gave him ample opportunity for introspection, particularly on his mortality and the legacy he wished to leave behind.
As the only surviving male child in his family, Babangida admitted that the thought of his lineage ending with him deeply troubled him.
“While convalescing in the hospital, I had plenty of time to reflect on my good fortune in not dying and what manner of future lay ahead of me. Being the only surviving male child of my parents, I was greatly troubled by the thought that had I died, that would have been the end of my family name and line.”
This reflection led him to consider marriage more seriously. The nuptials of then-Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, further reinforced his resolve.
“The Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Yakubu Gowon, had gotten married to his lovely wife, Victoria, with much pomp and military pageantry. I cannot deny that their marriage and the accompanying ceremony further focused my mind on getting married myself.”
As he weighed his options, one name stood out—Maria Okogwu.
“Time and again, Maria Okogwu kept popping into my mind with her ageless beauty and enchanting smile.”
P.M. NEWS
Read the full story here:
https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2025/03/01/i-nearly-died-babangida-opens-up-on-civil-war-marriage-journey/
