The 1966 Nigerian counter-coup was a military coup that took place in Nigeria on July 29, 1966, shortly after the January 15 coup. The counter-coup was led by a group of Northern military officers who were opposed to the January coup, which had been led by mostly Igbo officers.
The counter-coup resulted in the deaths of many Igbo military officers and civilians, including Nigeria’s first military Head of State, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi. The coup also led to the overthrow of the Igbo-dominated government and the appointment of a new head of state, Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon.
The counter-coup was a major turning point in Nigeria’s history. It led to the outbreak of the Biafran War, a civil war that lasted for three years and claimed the lives of over one million people. The coup also deepened ethnic tensions in Nigeria, which have continued to plague the country to this day.
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Background
The January 15 coup had been motivated by a number of factors, including the perceived dominance of the Northern Region in the Nigerian government, the growing ethnic tensions in the country, and the dissatisfaction of some military officers with the government’s handling of the Biafran War.
The counter-coup was also motivated by these factors, but it was also specifically aimed at avenging the deaths of Northern politicians and officers who had been killed in the January coup. The coup leaders believed that the January coup was an attempt by the Igbo to dominate Nigeria, and they were determined to prevent this from happening.
The Coup
The counter-coup began on the night of July 28, 1966. The coup leaders, who were led by Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed, seized control of key military installations in Lagos and other parts of the country. They also launched a radio broadcast in which they announced the overthrow of the government and the appointment of a new head of state, Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon.
The coup leaders quickly moved to consolidate their power. They arrested or killed many Igbo military officers and civilians, and they imposed martial law on the country. They also announced the dissolution of the federal government and the creation of a new government made up of Northerners.
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The Aftermath
The counter-coup had a profound impact on Nigeria. It led to the deaths of many Igbo military officers and civilians, including Nigeria’s first military Head of State, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi. The coup also led to the overthrow of the Igbo-dominated government and the appointment of a new head of state, Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon.
The counter-coup also deepened ethnic tensions in Nigeria. The killings of Igbos by Northerners in the aftermath of the coup led to a wave of reprisal killings in the Eastern Region. This violence eventually led to the outbreak of the Biafran War, a civil war that lasted for three years and claimed the lives of over one million people.
The 1966 Nigerian counter-coup was a tragic event that had a profound impact on Nigeria. It is a reminder of the dangers of political instability and the importance of peaceful resolution of conflict.
