Nigeria’s most famous war hero, Benjamin Adekunle (rtd), popularly known as ‘Black Scorpion’ is dead.

The Nation newspaper, quoting his wife, Folake, said General Adekunle died Saturday morning in Lagos. He was aged 78.

The cause of his death was not revealed.

Adekunle: 1936-2014

Adekunle was born in Kaduna on 26 June 1936. His father was a native of Ogbomosho, while his mother was a member of the Bachama tribe. He had secondary education at the Government college, Okene, Kogi State.

He enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1958, and was trained at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on December 15, 1960.

Adekunle served in the Congo as a peace keeper and also served as ADC to the governor of the eastern region, Sir Akanu Ibiam.

He briefly served as Adjutant General at the Army Headquarters in May 1965 and was appointed the commander of the Lagos Garrison as a substantive Lt. Col.

When the Nigerian Civil War erupted in July 1967, Adekunle played valiant roles in the 3 Marine Commando, some of which have entered the myths of history.

He was retired from the army in 1974.