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 northern military officers. The coup began as a mutiny at roughly midnight on 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 July mutiny/counter 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.

Reasons for the counter-coup

According to historian Max Siollun northern soldiers had a list of grievances[7] 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 (mostly Majors) 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 are listed below:[8]

  • Lt. Colonel Joseph Akahan (Commander, 4th Battalion Kaduna)
  • Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed (Inspector of Signals, Lagos)
  • Major Theophilus Danjuma (Principal Staff Officer, Army HQ, Lagos)
  • Major Abba Kyari (Artillery, Kaduna)
  • Major Martin Adamu (2nd Battalion Lagos)
  • Major Shittu Alao (Nigerian Airforce HQ, Lagos)
  • Major Musa Usman (Nigerian Air Force, Lagos)
  • Captain Joseph Garba (Federal Guards Lagos)
  • Captain Isa Bukar (Federal Guards Lagos)
  • Captain Ibrahim Taiwo (Lagos Garrison Yaba)
  • Captain Baba Usman GSO (Grade II, Army HQ, Lagos)
  • Captain Abdul D.S. Wya (3rd Battalion, Kaduna)
  • Lieutenant Muhammadu Buhari (2 Brigade Lagos)
  • Lieutenant Ibrahim Babangida (1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Kaduna)
  • Lieutenant Ibrahim Bako (4th Battalion, Ibadan)
  • Lieutenant William Walbe (2nd Battalion, Lagos)
  • Lieutenant Mamman Vatsa (4th Battalion, Ibadan)
  • Lieutenant Buka Suka Dimka (Nigerian Military Training College Kaduna)
  • Lieutenant Yakubu Dambo (3rd Battalion Kaduna)
  • Lieutenant Garba A. Dada (Adjutant 4th Battalion Ibadan)
  • Lieutenant Garba Duba (1 Reconnaissance Squadron Kaduna)
  • Lieutenant Mohammed Balarabe Haladu (4th Battalion, Ibadan)
  • Lieutenant Malami Mahe Nassarawa (2nd Battalion, Lagos)
  • Lieutenant James Onoja (4th Battalion, Ibadan)
  • Lieutenant Abdulahhi Shelleng (Company Commander, 4th Battalion, Ibadan)
  • Lieutenant Paul Chabri Tarfa (Federal Guards, Lagos)
  • Lieutenant D.S. Abubakar (Abeokuta Garrison)
  • Second Lieutenant Sani Abacha (3rd Battalion Kaduna)
  • Second Lieutenant Muhammadu Gado Nasko (Artillery, Kaduna)
  • Sergeant Paul Dickson
  • Sergeant Sabo Kwale (Abeokuta Garrison)
  • Corporal John Shagaya (2nd Reconnaissance Squadron, Abeokuta)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Baxter, Peter (2015). Biafra : the Nigerian Civil War, 1967-1970. Solihull, West Midlands, England: Helion. p. 15. ISBN 9781909982369. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 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.
  7. ↑ Siollun, Max (2009). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966 - 1976). Algora. p. 97. ISBN 9780875867090.
  8. ↑ Siollun, Max (2009). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966 - 1976). Algora. pp. 245–248. ISBN 9780875867090.


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