On January 15, 1966, Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu led the first ever-military
coup in Nigeria that led to the death of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna
of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Chief S.I. Akintola, the
Premier of Western Region, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Prime Minister of
Nigeria, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, Federal Minister of Finance and
other military officers. The coup was poorly carried out in certain
parts of the country and there was a strong accusation of tribalism. The
Northern People accused Chukwuma as well as his fellow coup plotters of
staging an Igbo coup. This is because most of the officers killed
during the coup were those from other part of the country. The then
general officer commanding the Nigerian army, Major-General Johnson
Thomas Ununakwe Aguiyi Ironsi was sworn-in as the Military Head of State
of Nigeria.
THE SECOND COUP IN NIGERIA
On 29 July, 1966, six months after the first coup plot, three young
military officers of Northern background led by Lieutenant Colonel
Murtala Muhammed staged a counter coup to even the score. This led to
the death of Major-General J.T.U. Aguyi-Ironsi, Head of State, Col.
Francis Adekunle Fajuyi Military Governor, Western region and other
military officers. General Yakubu Gowon was then sworn-in as the
Military Head of State.
THE THIRD COUP IN NIGERIA
In July 1975, a group of Colonel sacked the government of General Yakubu
Gowon in a bloodless coup. General Murtala Muhammed also masterminded
this coup. In this coup, no live were lost. General Murtala Muhammed
assumed power in July 1975.
THE FOURTH COUP IN NIGERIA
On 13 February 1976, six months later, Lieutenant-colonel Bukur Suka
Dimka with his loyalist stage an abortive coup which claimed the lives
of three officers; General Murtala Muhammed, Head of State, Col. Ibrahim
Taiwo, Governor of Kwara State and Lt. Akintunde Akinsehinwa, ADC to
Muhammed. This led to their arrest and subsequent execution of one
civilian and 38 soldiers, including Major-General Illya Bisalla, five
Colonel, four majors and other officers for their role in the failed
coup. Civilians involved in the coup include, Abdulkareem Zakari, a
staff of Radio Nigeria, Lagos and Helen Gomwalk, sister-in-law of Joseph
Gomwalk, were tried by military tribunal and punished. Zakari was
executed for his involvement in the coup while Helen Gomwalk bagged a
life sentence. She was later given amnesty by the Shehu Shagari
administration.
THE FIFTH COUP IN NIGERIA
On 31 December 1983, General Buhari Muhammadu stage a coup which sacked
the shehu Shagari’s administration. This coup led to the death of a
loyal officer to the government, Brigadier Ibrahim Bako.
THE SIXTH COUP IN NIGERIA
On 27 August 1985, Babangida led a palace coup which terminated the Buhari’s 20 months reign.
THE SEVENTH COUP IN NIGERIA
In 1986, Major-General Mamman Vatsa led an abortive coup to overthrown
the government of President Babangida. That same year, he and other 10
military officers were tried and were executed in March 1986.
THE EIGHTH COUP IN NIGERIA
On 22 April 1990, Gideon Orka staged an abortive coup to unseat the
government of Ibrahim Babangida. The coup attempt has been describe as
one of the bloodies coup and it was the largest execution of coup
plotters in the nation’s history. This led to the death of nine loyal
Soldiers. 69 soldiers of various ranks were accused of treason and they
were killed by firing squad. The second in command and Chief of general
staff, Vice-admiral Augustus Aikhomu, revealed that at least three of
the plotters of the April 22 coup were arrested, caution and released in
1987 over an alleged coup plot to overthrow the government. They were
G.T. Nyiam, a Lieutenant Colonel, S.D. Mukoro and Gideon Orkar, both
majors. They were later released. Aikhomu also said that the officers
regrouped once again in January to overthrow the government and had
intended to kill not only the president, but also, the AFRC members and
military governors, all civilian members of the council of ministers and
senior military and police officers. The suspects were later tried by
the treason and other offences special military tribunal headed by Ike
Nwachukwu, Major-General and general officer commanding the 1 mechanised
division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna. After the trial, 42 persons were
found guilty and condemned to death by firing squad. This was the
largest execution of coup plotters in Nigeria’s history breaking the
record of the 1976 coup led by Buka Suka Dimka in which 32 officers and
men were executed.
