Olusegun Obasanjo

=== Congo crisis: 1960–1961 ===
{{See also|Congo Crisis}}Shortly after, the Fifth Battalion were sent to the [[Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville)|Congo]] as part of a [[United Nations]] peacekeeping force. There, the battalion were stationed in [[Kivu|Kivu Province]], with their headquarters at [[Bukavu]].{{sfn|Iliffe|2011|p=14}} In the Congo, Obasanjo and others were responsible for protecting civilians, including the ethnic Belgian minority, against [[1960 Force Publique mutinies|soldiers who had mutinied]] against [[Patrice Lumumba]]'s government.{{sfn|Iliffe|2011|p=14}} In February 1961, Obasanjo was captured by the mutineers while he was evacuating [[Roman Catholic]] missionaries from a station near Bukavu. The mutineers considered executing him but were ordered to release him. In May 1961, the Fifth Battalion left the Congo and returned to Nigeria.{{sfn|Iliffe|2011|p=14}} During the conflict, he had been appointed a temporary captain.{{sfn|Derfler|2011|p=73}} He later noted that the time spent in the Congo strengthened the "Pan-African fervour" of his battalion.{{sfn|Iliffe|2011|p=14}}