60 Years Remembrance: Aguiyi-Ironsi Family Hails Fajuyi’s Sacrifice

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LAGOS – The family of the late former Head of State, Major General J.T.U. Agu­iyi-Ironsi, has paid tribute to the late Lt. Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, describ­ing his death as a “supreme and heroic sacrifice” that remains one of the most defining symbols of loy­alty and national unity in Nigeria’s history.

Son of Aguiyi-Ironsi and for­mer Minister of Defence, Amb. (Chief) Thomas I. Aguiyi-Ironsi, CON, in a letter of remembrance and solidarity written on behalf of the Aguiyi-Ironsi family to the Fajuyi family marking the 60th anniversary of his death, said July 29, 2026, will be a solemn oc­casion to honour a soldier they described as “a war hero who offered himself as a sacrificial lamb for the unity and integrity of the nation.”

The family recalled that Lt. Col. Fajuyi, then Military Gov­ernor of the Western Region, made the ultimate sacrifice in 1966 when mutinous soldiers ab­ducted him alongside Maj. Gen. Aguiyi-Ironsi in Ibadan during the military counter-coup.

They stated that Fajuyi, in a defining moment of conscience, chose honour over personal safety and refused to abandon his guest and superior, a deci­sion the family said reflected the highest ideals of loyalty, integrity, and military broth­erhood.

According to the statement, his action transformed him into a national martyr whose legacy continues to inspire unity, cour­age, and selfless service.

The Aguiyi-Ironsi family also expressed sympathy with the Fa­juyi family, acknowledging the enduring pain of their loss, while praying for continued strength, comfort, and peace.

It further appreciated Nigeri­ans, institutions, and well-mean­ing individuals who have consis­tently honoured the memory of Fajuyi, describing such support as proof that “the sacrifice of a true patriot is never forgotten.”

The statement further stated, “He did not run. He did not hide. He chose to stand. In that sacri­ficial decision lay the essence of his greatness.”

The family called on gov­ernment institutions, military authorities, and custodians of national memory to ensure sus­tained recognition and support for the Fajuyi family, stressing that his sacrifice remains a na­tional responsibility to remem­ber and honour.