THE COUP IN NIGERIA

The coup

Main article: 1966 Nigerian coup d’état

The political unrest during the mid-1960s culminated into Nigeria’s first military coup d’état. On 15 January 1966, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and his fellow rebel soldiers (most of who were of southern extraction) and were led by Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna of the Nigerian Army, executed a bloody takeover of all institutions of government. Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, was assassinated along with the premier of Northern Nigeria, strong-man Ahmadu Bello the Sardauna of Sokoto,Samuel Akintola, premier of the West and Festus Okotie-Eboh, the Finance Minister. It is not clear whether President Azikiwe’s life was spared because he was out of the country at the time, or whether he had been informed about the impending coup and was out of the country so that his life could be spared. Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi took control as the first Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria on January 16, 1966.