1966 Nigerian coup d'état

1966 Nigerian coup d'etat
DateJanuary 15–16, 1966
LocationNigeria
Result
Belligerents
Government of Nigeria Rebel Army Officers
Commanders and leaders
Abubakar Balewa †
Ahmadu Bello †
Samuel Akintola †
Festus Okotie-Eboh †		 Kaduna Nzeogwu
Timothy Onwuatuegwu
Emmanuel Ifeajuna
Adewale Ademoyega
Chris Anuforo
Humphrey Chukwuka
Don Okafor
Strength
unknown unknown
Casualties and losses
22 dead 0

The 1966 Nigerian coup d'état began on January 15, 1966, when mutinous Nigerian soldiers led by Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna killed 22 people[1] including the Prime Minister of Nigeria, many senior politicians, many senior Army officers (including their wives), and sentinels on protective duty.[2][3] The coup plotters attacked the cities of Kaduna, Ibadan, and Lagos while also blockading the Niger and Benue River within a two-day span of time before the coup plotters were subdued. The General Officer Commanding, of the Nigerian Army, Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi then used the coup as a pretext to annex power, ending Nigeria's nascent democracy. It was one of the events that led to the Nigerian Civil War.

Background

In August 1965 a group of Army majors (Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Timothy Onwuatuegwu, Chris Anuforo, Don Okafor, Humphrey Chukwuka, and Adewale Ademoyega) began plotting a coup d'état against incumbent Prime Minister Abubakar Balewa. The coup was planned because according to the majors, the men at the helm of affairs were running Nigeria aground with their corrupt ways. Ministers under them were living flamboyant lifestyles and looting public funds at the expense of ordinary citizens.

The president of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe left the country in late 1965, first for Europe, then on a cruise to the Caribbean. Under the law, the Senate president, Nwafor Orizu, became acting president during his absence and had all the powers of the president.

Coup

Late in the morning of January 15, 1966, at a meeting with some local journalists in Kaduna seeking to find out what was going on, it was brought to Major Nzeogwu's attention that the only information about the events then was what was being broadcast by the BBC. Nzeogwu was surprised because he had expected a radio broadcast of the rebels from Lagos. He is said to have "gone wild" when he learnt that Emmanuel Ifeajuna in Lagos had not made any plans whatsoever to neutralize Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi who was the Commander of the Army. Therefore, Nzeogwu hurriedly drafted a speech which was broadcast on Radio Kaduna sometime around 12 a.m. and in which he declared martial law over the Northern Provinces of Nigeria.[4][5]

Aftermath

Acting President Nwafor Orizu made a nationwide broadcast, after he had briefed President Nnamdi Azikiwe on the phone about the decision of the cabinet, announcing the cabinet's "voluntary" decision to transfer power to the armed forces. Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi then made his own broadcast, accepting the "invitation". On January 17, Major General Ironsi established the Supreme Military Council in Lagos and effectively suspended the constitution.[6]

Officers involved

The list below shows the officers involved on both sides of the coup as well as their ethnic backgrounds.

Conspirators

Participants

  • Capt. Emmanuel Nwobosi (Igbo)
  • Capt. G. Adeleke (Yoruba)
  • Lt. Fola Oyewole (Yoruba), author of "The reluctant rebel"
  • Lt. R. Egbiko (Esan)
  • Lt. PM Okocha (Igbo)
  • Lt. Tijani Katsina(Hausa/Fulani)
  • Lt. O. Olafemiyan (Yoruba)
  • Capt. Gibson Jalo (Bali)
  • Capt. Swanton (Middle Belt)
  • Lt. Dag Warribor (Ijaw)
  • 2nd Lt. Saleh Dambo (Hausa)
  • 2nd Lt. John Atom Kpera (Tiv)
  • Capt. Ben Gbulie (Igbo)
  • Lt. Dimka

Government officials

Casualties

Comprehensive list of casualties from the coup are below[1]

Civilians

Military and police

  • Brig. Samuel Ademulegun
  • Brig. Zakariya Maimalari
  • Col. Ralph Shodeinde
  • Col. Kur Mohammed
  • Lt. Col. Abogo Largema
  • Lt. Col. James Pam
  • Lt. Col. Arthur Unegbe
  • Sergeant Daramola Oyegoke (assisted Nzeogwu in the attack on the Sardauna's lodge and according to the Police report was murdered by Nzeogwu)[2][3]
  • PC Yohana Garkawa
  • Lance Corporal Musa Nimzo
  • PC Akpan Anduka
  • PC Hagai Lai
  • philip lewande

References

  1. 1 2 Siollun, Max. Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976). Algora Publishing, 2009. p. 237. ISBN 9780875867106.
  2. 1 2 Omoigui, Nowamagbe. "SPECIAL BRANCH REPORT: "Military Rebellion of 15th January 1966". Gamji.com. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 Kirk-Greene & Millard. Crisis and conflict in Nigeria: a documentary sourcebook, Volume 1; Volume 9. Oxford University Press, 1971. p. 124.
  4. ↑ Nzeogwu's Declaration of Martial Law - January 15, 1966
  5. ↑ "Radio broadcast by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu – announcing Nigeria's first military coup on Radio Nigeria, Kaduna on January 15, 1966". Vanguard. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  6. ↑ Abubakar Ibrahim (29 July 2008). "The Forgotten Interim President". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2010-02-28.
  • "SPECIAL BRANCH REPORT: "Military Rebellion of 15th January 1966"".
  • Siollun, Max (2005-10-30). "The inside story of Nigeria's first military coup". kwenu.com. Archived from the original on 2007-06-29. Retrieved 2014-09-23.
  • Coutsoukis, Photius (June 1991). "Nigeria The 1966 Coups, Civil War, and Gowon's Government". photius.com. Retrieved 2015-02-12.
  • Isiguzo, Christopher (2010-07-20). "Nigeria: Jan 1966 Coup Planned By Revolutionaries, Says Study". allAfrica. Retrieved 2014-09-23.
  • Francis, James (2009-03-29). "The history of coup d'etat in Nigeria". It is all about the history of Nigeria. Retrieved 2015-02-12.
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