Lt. S.O.S Echendu is one of the three Igbo officers that participated in the April 22nd 1990 coup led by Major Gideon Orkah that attempted to seize power from Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. The Army officer who fled the country after the coup failed has been talking about the event.
He revealed that he was in charge of Dodan Barracks, the seat of power that fateful day. According to him he was the one who led the coupists that captured Dodan Barracks that made then President Ibrahim Babangida to run for his dear life.
He said he was in control of Dodan Barracks that period the coup lasted and had the opportunity to kill IBB because he had him cornered within the perimeters of the environment at Dodan Barracks and even saw him escaped in 504 Peugeot car which he has easily blown up into pieces with his armoured rounds as an amoured officer. But he did not want to kill him.
According to him, he wanted to arrest him alive and put him to trial so that he can defend himself.
Lt. Echendu equally revealed that he did not kill Col. U.K Bello as some people have been saying and IBB and the security agencies know the truth. Lt. Echendu now lives in North Carolina, USA and married and blessed with children. He has not been to Nigeria since April 1990.