The legendary Brigadier Benjamin Adesanya Maja Adekunle (1936- 2014), a.k.a. ‘The Black Scorpion’, was one of the most successful military commanders during the Nigerian Civil War.
Benjamin Adekunle was born in Kaduna. His father was a native of Ogbomosho, while his mother was from the Bachama tribe in Adamawa State.
He attended secondary school in Okene and trained at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.
Adekunle was part of the UN Peacekeeping Force during the Congo Crisis in 1960. He served as aide-de-camp of Akanu Ibiam, Governor of the Eastern Region.
He later served as Adjutant-General of the Nigerian Army and Commander of the Lagos Garrison.
Adekunle is best known as the Commander of the legendary 3rd Marine Commando – one of the most successful fighting units during the Nigerian Civil War.
After the war, he was charged with the responsibility of resolving the ports congestion crisis in Nigeria.
He was compulsorily retired from the Army in 1974 following the Iyabo Olorunkoya Scandal.
Adekunle died in 2014, aged 78, after a protracted illness.
(HeavyDence Blog)
