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.
1966 Nigerian counter-coup | |||||||
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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] |
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 principal coup plotters are listed below:[8]