Benjamin Adekunle, the ruthless Brigadier-General of the Nigeria-Biafra War fame, has died, aged 78. He was widely known as Black Scorpion on account of his war atrocities and was much despised by the Biafran side that lost the war fought from 1967 to 1970.

Brg.-Gen. Adekunle’s wife, Folake, said he died this morning in Nigeria’s former capital, Lagos. She did not offer details.

Adekunle achieved notoriety or fame – dependeing on which side one is – as the commander of the 3rd Marine Commando of the Nigerian Army. He was compulsorily retried from the Nigerian Army in 1974.

•Photo shows late Brig.-Gen. Benjamin Adekunle a.k.a Black Scorpion.