1966 Nigerian counter-coup

1966 Nigerian counter-coup
Date28 July – 1 August 1966
Location
Nigeria
Result

Coup successful

Belligerents
Supreme Military Council of Nigeria Northern Army Officers
Commanders and leaders
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi †
Adekunle Fajuyi †		 Murtala Muhammed
Joseph Akahan
Theophilus Danjuma
Martin Adamu
Strength
unknown unknown
Casualties and losses
300 dead[1] none[2]

The 1966 Nigerian Counter-coup (also known as the "July Rematch") was the second of many military coups in Nigeria. It was masterminded by Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed[4] and many other northern military officers. The coup began as a mutiny at roughly midnight of 28 July 1966[5] and was a reaction to the killings of Northern politicians and officers by some soldiers on 15 January 1966 (see 1966 Nigerian coup d'état). The coup resulted in the murder of Nigeria's first military Head of State General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi and Lt Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi (who was hosting a visiting Aguiyi-Ironsi) in Ibadan by disgruntled northern non-commissioned officers (NCOs).[6] Upon the termination of Ironsi's government, Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon was appointed Head of State by the coup conspirators.

  1. ^ a b c Baxter, Peter (2015). Biafra : the Nigerian Civil War, 1967-1970. Solihull, West Midlands, England: Helion. p. 15. ISBN 9781909982369. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b Siollun, Max (2009). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976). Algora. p. 148. ISBN 9780875867090.
  3. ^ Metz, Helen. "The 1966 Coups, Civil War, and Gowon's Government". Country Studies. Country Studies/Area Handbook Series. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  4. ^ Siollun, Max (2009). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976). Algora. pp. 98–102. ISBN 9780875867090.
  5. ^ Joe Garba- A Revolution in Nigeria, another view
  6. ^ Siollun, Max (2009). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976). Algora. p. 110. ISBN 9780875867090.