Bravery of the first amphibious combat unit in Nigerian military history
A historic photograph of officers of the 3rd Marine Commando within Biafra during the Nigerian civil war in 1968.
Originally known as the 3rd Infantry Division, the unit was one of the most formidable and effective formations on the Federal side.
It was led by Colonel Benjamin Adesanya Maja Adekunle, famously known as the Black Scorpion.
Colonel Adekunle renamed the division the 3rd Marine Commando to reflect the difficult terrain in which they operated — the swampy, riverine regions of the Niger Delta. The division would go on to become the first amphibious combat unit in Nigerian military history.
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This elite group of officers, often referred to as the “Dream Team,” planned and executed some of the most critical operations of the war.
Standing (Left to Right):
Lieutenant Colonel Filemon A. Shande,
Lieutenant Colonel Olusegun Ato,
Lieutenant Colonel John Pius Eromobor,
Lieutenant Colonel Sunny Tuoyo.
Seated (Left to Right):
Lieutenant Colonel Muhammadu Abubakar,
Lieutenant Colonel Godwin Alabi-Isama (Chief of Staff, 3MCDO),
Colonel Benjamin Adesanya Maja Adekunle (Black Scorpion),
Lieutenant Colonel J.O. Ayo-Ariyo,
Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Obeya.
Not pictured, but also part of the core team:
Lieutenant Colonel Ipoola Alani Akinrinade,
Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Abdullahi Aliyu,
Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro.
These men were young, determined, and fiercely committed to their mission. Together, they shaped the course of the war and left an enduring legacy in Nigerian military history.
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