Who was NOT a victim of the January 15, 1966 coup in Nigeria?

Analyze the question: You are asked to find the person who was NOT killed in the January 15, 1966 coup (led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and other majors).

Concept: The coup of January 15, 1966 was Nigeria's first military coup. The plotters assassinated several top political and military figures, but some leaders were spared.

Victims of the coup:

• Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Prime Minister (killed)
• Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, Federal Finance Minister (killed)
• Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Premier of Western Region (killed)
• Sir Ahmadu Bello, Premier of Northern Region (killed)
• Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari (the option's "Maimalari Zachariah"), a senior army officer (killed)
• Others included Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun, Colonel Kur Mohammed, Lt. Col. Abogo Largema, and Lt. Col. Arthur Unegbe.

Not a victim:

• Dr. Michael Okpara, Premier of the Eastern Region. He was not killed. The Eastern Region leadership and many Igbo political figures were spared, which later fueled claims that the coup was an "Igbo coup".
• Others who were spared include Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (President, who was out of the country), Dr. Dennis Osadebay (Midwest Premier), and Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi.

Step-by-step elimination:

• A: Maimalari was killed, so it is not the answer.
• B: Okotie-Eboh was killed, so it is not the answer.
• C: Okpara was not killed, so this is the answer.
• D: Akintola was killed, so it is not the answer.
• E: Balewa was killed, so it is not the answer.

Exam tip: Remember that the January 1966 coup killed the Northern and Western leaders (Bello, Akintola, Balewa) but spared the Eastern leaders (Okpara, Azikiwe). A simple memory line: "Okpara and Azikiwe survived."