From human angle, what is similar (but never equal) to the price paid for the salvation of mankind was an event of a counter coup in Nigeria, West Africa in 1966. The self-sacrifice of one person prevented escalation of war between two prominent ethnic groups in the country. The two were at the forefront of agitation for self-government  and eventual total independence from Great Britain. The first ever military coup took place on January 15, 1966 and Military Head of State emerged consequent upon the anticipated change of civil government that failed to carry all tribes and tongues along in governance.

There followed a counter coup in which the Head of State, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi was assassinated while on a nationwide tour of the Western State on July 29, 1966. Lt.- Col Adekunle Fajuyi could not stop the insurgency and consequently offered to surrender his life, otherwise it would have appeared his ethnic group was privy to the assassination. There was insinuation as to why the West was the place where the Head of State was killed. Thanks to the media that widely reported that Lt-Col Fajuyi made great sacrifice for a cause of Nigerian unity in general and specifically between his ethnic group and that to which the eliminated Head of State came from. His decision saved the two ethnic groups from a disastrous reprisal. It was an uncommon love that was far above the ordinary.