Family of Late Gen. Mamman Vatsa Appeals for Investigation into His Trial and Execution

The family of late Gen. Mamman Vatsa, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has called on the Federal Government to investigate the trial and eventual killing of their son, who was implicated in a coup plot and executed in 1986 by the then military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida. Alongside nine other military officers, Vatsa was accused of plotting to overthrow Babangida’s regime.

The appeal comes on the heels of a Federal High Court order in Abuja to revisit the case of the brutal murder of journalist Dele Giwa and other journalists. Vatsa’s younger brother and family spokesperson, Jonathan Vatsa, emphasized their belief in Vatsa’s innocence, labeling the coup allegations as a frame-up.

Jonathan Vatsa, also a former Commissioner for Information Culture and Tourism in Niger State, stressed the need for a retrial to establish Vatsa’s innocence and provide closure for the family. He called for the exhumation of Vatsa’s body for a proper burial once he was cleared of the allegations.

Highlighting the significance of justice for all victims of injustice during that period, Jonathan Vatsa urged the Federal Government to initiate an investigation into Vatsa’s trial and execution, similar to the court-ordered retrial of Dele Giwa’s murder case. He underscored the enduring impact of Vatsa’s death on the family and the community, lamenting the loss of a beloved figure in the Gulu Vatsa community.