60 Years Since the First Coup: Prof. Pam Discusses His Father's Abduction

Lt. Col. James Yakubu Gyang Pam, hailing from Plateau State, was among the military personnel who lost their lives in the 1966 coup, alongside prominent figures such as Sir Ahmad Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto. Through this interview, his son, Prof. Ishaya Pam, a former Chief Medical Director of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), shares insights into those harrowing events and the family's journey in the aftermath.

Can you recall what transpired when you lost your father during the coup on January 15, 1966?

I was just one year and nine months old when the coup took place on January 15, 1966. I have five siblings, and I am one of the twins in our family. On that fateful day, soldiers involved in the coup attacked our home at Number 8 Ikoyi Crescent, Lagos, around 2:00 a.m. After breaking into our house and damaging my father’s car, they confronted him. He attempted to call for help while they forced their way in. Surprisingly, the officer leading the group was Major Humphrey Chukwuka, my father's deputy and trusted ally. Another officer, 2nd Lieutenant Godwin Onyefuru, was also part of the group, which included several other soldiers. They abducted my father despite my mother’s pleas for his life. Chukwuka assured her that no harm would come to him and promised to return him safely.

Before being taken away, Chukwuka guaranteed my mother that my father would be unharmed, but my father sensed impending danger. He turned to her and in Hausa told her to care for the children and assured her of God’s presence.

The coup conspirators brought him to the federal guards in Lagos, their meeting point, where numerous other victims had already been taken, many of whom were deceased. A confrontation arose between Major Christian Anufuru and Major Chukwuka regarding my father's survival, resulting in Major Anufuru seizing my father and taking him away in a Range Rover to a secluded area. After allowing my father to say his last prayers, he was tragically killed.

Was your father's body ever located?

According to our investigation, those who were executed during the coup were buried in a shallow grave along the Lagos-Abeokuta road, including the bodies of then-Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and Minister of Finance Okotie-Eboh. On January 17, 1966, these bodies were discovered and sent to Yaba Military Hospital in Lagos for autopsy, where the causes of death were determined. Afterward, the remains were buried. To this day, we are still searching for my father’s body, learning that the victims were given a mass burial in the dead of night without honors. However, we are gradually narrowing down the location of his burial site.

What unfolded once your family realized your father had died?

Following my father’s death, our family had no choice but to relocate from Lagos to Jos with our mother, along with our extended relatives. We packed our belongings and were taken back to Jos, eventually sheltered in the residence of the then Gbong Gwom Jos. They later traced our origins to Kwang in Du District, where my father’s personal effects were delivered to us.

Upon reaching Jos, we faced a completely new beginning. Thankfully, the military supported our education until 1975, when General Yakubu Gowon was ousted, ending that assistance. From then on, my mother single-handedly managed our upbringing and education, guiding us through university.

Could you tell us a little about your father?

My father, Lt. Col. James Yakubu Pam, was born on November 23, 1933. He attended Central School in Pankshin and then St Paul’s Primary School in Jos. Post-primary education, he enrolled at Barewa College in Zaria, excelling to the point of receiving an “Exemption from the London Matriculation,” a distinction given only to top-performing students at the time.

He joined the Army and underwent training in Teshie, Ghana, and then further studies in Eaton Hall, England. In 1955, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and became the first Nigerian Artillery Officer and the first Military Officer from the Middle Belt. Upon his return, he joined the West African Frontier Force as 2nd Lieutenant J. Y. Pam No. WAFF45, later nationalized as N/34.

Throughout his military career, my father served in various units, commanded the Nigerian Army Battalion in Kawo Kaduna as the first African to do so, and ultimately rose to the position of Adjutant-General of the Nigerian Army. His service ended tragically on January 15, 1966, during Nigeria's first military coup d'état.

His military involvements extended to several operations, including those in Southern Cameroons and UN peacekeeping in Congo. He notably contributed to the re-training of the Tanganyika Army in 1964. When he returned from this mission in 1965, he was honored with the National Honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), although he sadly passed before formally receiving it. His medals were later awarded posthumously.

Can you tell us about your mother?

My mother was originally from Ghana, her own mother being from the Fulani ethnic group in Jigawa State but raised in Kano State. After my maternal grandfather’s death when my mother was only four, she was brought up by her Fulani grandmother. My mother learned to speak Berom because of my father and could communicate fluently in Berom, Hausa, and English at home.

She was well-educated, having shared her primary school journey with notable figures, attended secondary school, and subsequently an institute of administration in Zaria.

Is your mother still alive?

No, she passed away in May 2011 at the age of 75.

How did your mother manage to educate all of you after your father’s death?

Most of us gained admissions based on merit. We consistently excelled in our exams, which allowed us entry into various institutions. Particularly in university, we were often at the top of our classes.

Did you have moments where you connected with families of other coup victims?

Absolutely, we maintained contact, bonded by our shared experience. Some family members were even classmates with my siblings. Notably, we had a reunion at Barewa College, which honored our fathers who were killed during the coup, given that many were its alumni.

How have your siblings fared over the last 60 years since your father’s passing?

As previously mentioned, we are six siblings. Today, Mrs. Kaneng Daze runs a mega fuel station, Hon. Justice Jummai H.C. Sankey serves on the Supreme Court; Jonathan Yusufu Gyang Pam was the former Attorney-General of Plateau State, Dr. Ishaku Chollom Pam (my twin) is a Clinical Director in the Isle of Man, and Ibrahim James Pam heads the World Bank Inspection panel in Washington D.C.

Have you commemorated your father’s memory?

Yes, we have been honoring his memory over the past decade, especially as we approach the 60th anniversary of his death. We are arranging multiple events for this landmark occasion to unveil the truth and promote reconciliation, addressing the long-unhealed wounds from the coup that disrupted Nigeria along ethnic lines.

Emphasizing forgiveness is essential for progress; we must confront historical grievances and correct the conditions that enabled such a coup to occur. It is crucial for our leaders to operate transparently and responsibly to avert future coups. Currently, issues of division are not just ethnic but also religious, complicating the socio-political landscape further. We must make our populace aware of how politicians exploit these divisions for electoral gain. The focus should shift toward development and meritocracy, rather than being swayed by religious affiliations.

As someone who has suffered the consequences of military coups, what advice would you impart to the nation, especially considering the current unrest and recent coup attempts?

I firmly believe that a military coup will not resolve the complexities we face as a nation today. Nigeria's situation is exceedingly intricate, and attempting another coup would be catastrophic. The events of 1966 led to a sequence of disasters, including a counter-coup and civil war, leaving lasting scars. The prolonged time lost to such upheavals has set us back against other nations.

The over-reliance on oil and the corruption that escalated during military rule, alongside a flawed political constitution, hampered our development. After enduring 40 years of military governance, we are still recovering from its negative impacts. We must aim for gradual and uninterrupted development; disruption would only regress our progress. Given our past experiences, coups should not be regarded as viable solutions at this juncture.