Zakariya Maimalari

[citation needed] Maimalari was born in the present day Yobe State, he was educated at Barewa College, Zaria.

Maimalari and his childhood friend, Lawan Umar joined the Royal West Africa Frontier Force in 1950.

[1] As part of a Nigerianization program to enlist more Nigerians into the senior ranks of army, he underwent preparatory course at the Regular Officers Training School, Teshie Ghana and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

The intention to promote more Nigerian officers led to an organizational structure developed by regional and ethnic considerations.

[3] The day prior to 15 January 1966 coup, Maimalari was celebrating his recent marriage, unknowingly some of the attendees were also rebel leaders who would come back to haunt him.