“History is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul.” -John Dalberg-Acton
Today In History
1. Military Head Of State, General Muritala Muhammad Created New States
On this day in 1976, Military Head Of State, General Muritala Muhammad created new states and renamed others. The states created include, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Imo, Niger, Ogun, and Ondo.
2. Military Head Of State, General Muritala Muhammad Announced The Move Of Capital Territory To Abuja
On this day in 1976, after deliberation and consideration, the military Head Of State, General Muritala Muhammad announced that the Federal Capital would be moved to Abuja due to Lagos being overcrowded.
3. Air France’s Crash In Cameroon
On this day in 1951, an Air France’s Douglas DC-4-1009 en route from Douala, Cameroon, to Niamey, Niger hit the high Cameroon Mountain near Bouea, Cameroon, west of Douala. The crash led to the of all 29 occupants of the plane.
4. Assassination Of Mozambique Freedom Fighter, Eduardo Mondlane
On this day in 1969, Eduardo Mondlane, the President of the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO) from 1962, was assasinated in Tanzania where he was in exile. Mondlane had received a book sent by post, opened it and got killed by the detonated bomb enclosed in the book. The Portuguese colonialist have been alleged to be responsible for his death.
5. Mozambique Renamed It’s Capital City, Maputo
On this day in 1976, following Mozambique’s independence in 1975, it renamed it’s capital city, Maputo after Maputo river, which marks the border with South Africa in the southernmost extent of Mozambique. It was also symbolic during the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO) led struggle.
The Country’s capital had bee Lourenço Marques, named after the Portuguese navigator who first visited the site in 1545.
6. South Africa Hosted African Cup Of Nations
On this day in 1996, South Africa hosted the 19th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The South African team won the AFCON title.
7. Maritime Mishap
On this day in 2006, an Egyptian Ro/Ro passenger ferry en route from Duba, Saudi Arabia, to Safaga in southern Egypt capsized and sank in the Red Sea.
The ship carried about 1,400 passengers and crew members and about 220 vehicles at the time of the mishap, however only 388 people were rescued.
The owners of the ship were jailed for insisting the ship’s captain continue after he sought permission to return to the port, following a fire outbreak in the ship.
8. Kam Air Flight Crash
On this day in 2005, Kam Air Flight 904, a passenger domestic flight from Herat Airfield in Herat to Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul crashed into the mountainous terrain killing all 97 passengers and 8 crew on board.
