1966 Nigerian counter-coup


The 1966 Nigerian Counter-coup was the second of many military coups in Nigeria. It was masterminded by Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed and many other northern military officers. The coup began as a mutiny at roughly midnight of 28 July 1966 and was a reaction to the killings of Northern politicians and officers by some soldiers on 15 January 1966. The coup resulted in the murder of Nigeria's first military Head of State General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi and Lt Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi in Ibadan by disgruntled northern non-commissioned officers. Upon the termination of Ironsi's government, Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon was appointed Head of State by the coup conspirators.

Reasons for the counter-coup

According to historian Max Siollun northern soldiers had a list of grievances following the aborted 15 January 1966, coup which led to the planning of the counter-coup. A list of their grievances were:
  • The murder of northern civilian leaders and military officers in the aborted 15 January 1966, coup d'etat
  • The 15 January 1966, coup conspirators had not been tried for treason and were being paid while in detention.
  • The passage of the Unification Decree.
  • Rumors of an "Igbo coup" to eliminate northern soldiers.
  • The promotion of several Igbo Majors to Lt. Colonel.
  • Rumors of General Aguiyi-Ironsi's ethnic favoritism toward Igbos.
  • Plans to swap the 1st and 4th battalions and plans to rotate the military governors of the different regions.

    Coup participants

The principal coup plotters were: