New revelations have emerged about the personal history of Nigerian actor Daniel Etim-Effiong, who has shared details of his father’s arrest and near-execution during the country’s military period over alleged involvement in a coup plot against former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida.
Speaking on the Diary of a Naija Girl podcast, the actor said the incident occurred when he was still an infant, noting that his father’s military career became entangled in a wider investigation following an alleged plot to overthrow the then military government.
According to him, the situation began when a close friend of his father in the military confided in him about plans to remove the Head of State from power. He explained that his father was left in a moral dilemma over whether to report the information or remain silent.
The matter escalated after the alleged plot was exposed. The associate was reportedly arrested and, during interrogation, mentioned Etim-Effiong’s father as someone he had confided in, leading to his own arrest and subsequent prosecution.
The actor further disclosed that his father was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death by firing squad in connection with the case. However, he added that his father narrowly escaped execution under circumstances he described as unexpected and extraordinary.
“His best friend in the army had told him of plans that he had to kick Babangida out of power. And the big question became for him, should he tell on his friend or should he not tell on his friend?
“When the whole thing was leaked, my dad’s best friend was arrested, and they asked him, ‘Who did you tell about this coup plot?’ And he said he told my dad. My dad was arrested as well, and he was tried and sentenced to death by a firing squad. Miraculously, he survived that ordeal,” he said.
Etim-Effiong added that the episode left a lasting imprint on his family, shaping much of their early experiences and memory of that period in Nigeria’s military history.