Military Era & Coups in Nigeria
Military regimes, coups, economic policies, and the transition to democratic governance in Nigeria from 1966 to 1999.
Belonging Beyond Borders: The Igbo Presence in Northern Nigeria
Nigeria’s story has never been one of fixed boundaries or static identities. Long before modern politics hardened regional labels, people moved, traded, settled and...
Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu: The Officer and the Coup That Changed Nigeria
Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu remains one of the most consequential figures in modern Nigerian history. As a key participant in Nigeria’s first military...
Timothy Onwuatuegwu: Soldier in Nigeria’s 1966 Coup and the Biafran War
Major Timothy Onwuatuegwu was a Nigerian military officer who served in the Nigerian Army and later as a commander in the Biafran Armed...
Major Donatus Okafor and the Federal Guards: The Man Behind Nigeria’s First Military Coup
Major Donatus Okafor, commander of the Federal Guards Brigade, was a central figure during Nigeria’s first military intervention in politics. The January 15, 1966...
Chris Anuforo and the January 1966 Coup: A Verified Account of Events
On 15 January 1966, Nigeria experienced its first military coup, abruptly ending the First Republic and ushering in prolonged military rule. Among the principal...
Emmanuel Ifeajuna: From Commonwealth Gold to Nigeria’s Defining Coup
Emmanuel Arinze Ifeajuna stands as one of the most remarkable and debated figures in mid‑20th century Nigerian history. He achieved international sporting glory, rose...
From Officer to Army Commander: How Aguiyi‑Ironsi Became Nigeria’s First Indigenous GOC
In February 1965, Major‑General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi‑Ironsi made history by becoming the first Nigerian to hold the position of General Officer Commanding (GOC)...
Ironsi, Ademulegun and Ogundipe: How Nigeria’s Military Leaders Shaped the 1966 Crisis
The January 1966 coup marked a turning point in Nigeria’s history, toppling elected officials and placing the military at the centre of national governance....
British Officers Exit: How a Command Vacuum Reshaped Nigeria’s Military
Nigeria’s independence in 1960 marked the end of colonial rule and the beginning of profound institutional transformation. Among the most consequential changes was the...
The January 1966 Coup Plotters
In the early hours of January 15, 1966, mutinous elements within the Nigerian Army launched coordinated actions aimed at ending the First Republic’s civilian...