Renowned filmmaker Obi Emelonye has revealed a conversation he had with former Nigerian Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), about the most difficult decision of his military career—ordering the execution of his childhood friend, Mamman Vatsa.
Speaking on a recent episode of WithChude, Emelonye recounted his experience while working on his biopic, Badamasi: Portrait of a General. During a meeting, Babangida disclosed that signing off on Vatsa’s execution was the toughest choice he ever made as a soldier.
A Bond That Spanned Decades
According to Emelonye, Babangida and Vatsa were classmates at Bida Secondary School and later coursemates at the Nigerian Defense Academy. Their friendship deepened as they rose through the military ranks together, with Vatsa even taking over Babangida’s command after the latter was injured during the Nigerian Civil War.
When Babangida became head of state, he appointed Vatsa as FCT Minister, a position that underscored his trust in him.
The Betrayal That Led to Execution
However, their relationship took a tragic turn when Vatsa was implicated in a coup plot. While he was not directly involved, he allegedly knew about the plot and failed to report it.
“In military politics, if you hear about a coup and don’t report it, you are as guilty as the people who planned it,” Emelonye quoted Babangida as saying.
A Heart-Wrenching Decision
Babangida was torn between his personal loyalty to Vatsa and his duty as a military leader. He knew that sparing his friend would set a dangerous precedent among other military officers.
“Ordering the execution of my friend was the hardest thing I ever did as a soldier,” Babangida reportedly told Emelonye. “But if anyone betrayed someone, it was Vatsa who betrayed me.”
Vatsa was convicted by a military tribunal and executed on March 5, 1986.
Conflicting Perspectives
Emelonye also spoke with Vatsa’s family, who expressed their pain and frustration over the execution. While they remained convinced of his innocence, the official account maintains that Vatsa’s silence was a betrayal of military trust.
