Between 1966 and 1993, Nigeria experienced a series of military coups and power transitions that reshaped its political trajectory. These events involved shifts of authority within the Nigerian Army, reflecting competing priorities, institutional pressures and responses to governance challenges. From the overthrow of the First Republic to the rise of deeply entrenched military regimes, the actions of army officers altered public life, politics and national institutions.
The First Coup – January 1966
On 15 January 1966, Nigeria’s First Republic was brought to an abrupt end when a group of young army officers seized power. The coup plotters, operating in several cities, killed senior political figures, ending the civilian administration led by Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, the army’s most senior officer, assumed leadership of the new government, marking the first time the military directly governed the country. The coup was justified by its leaders as a response to corruption and political crisis, though its execution highlighted divisions within the officer corps and the nascent Nigerian state.
EXPLORE NOW: Military Era & Coups in Nigeria
The Counter-Coup – July 1966
Just months after the January takeover, another military intervention occurred. On 28 July 1966, a counter-coup was launched. Officers dissatisfied with Ironsi’s rule and alarmed by the earlier bloodshed overthrew his government. Ironsi and Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, the military governor hosting him, were killed during the uprising. The conspirators appointed Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon as Head of State. This counter-coup deepened tensions within the armed forces and among Nigeria’s regional identities, leading to widespread instability and contributing to conditions that would soon spark civil conflict.
The 1975 Coup – Ending Gowon’s Rule
After nearly a decade of Gowon’s leadership, dissatisfaction grew within the armed forces, particularly among junior officers who felt promised transitions to civilian governance were delayed. On 29 July 1975, a carefully planned bloodless coup removed Gowon while he was abroad and appointed Brigadier Murtala Ramat Mohammed as Head of State with Brigadier Olusegun Obasanjo as his deputy. The swift change signalled deep concerns within the army about political stagnation and set expectations for national leadership that would respond to public frustration.
The 1976 Coup Attempt – Assassination of Murtala Mohammed
Fewer than seven months later, on 13 February 1976, Lieutenant Colonel Buka Suka Dimka led a coup attempt that resulted in the assassination of Murtala Mohammed in Lagos during an ambush on his motorcade. Although the plotters failed to seize full control, Mohammed’s death shocked the nation and demonstrated that even popular leaders were vulnerable to internal dissent within the armed forces. Government troops suppressed the attempt and Olusegun Obasanjo succeeded Mohammed as Head of State.
The 1983 Coup – Ending the Second Republic
Nigeria returned briefly to civilian rule in 1979, but political and economic challenges persisted. On 31 December 1983, senior military officers overthrew the elected government of President Shehu Shagari, citing corruption and mismanagement. Major General Muhammadu Buhari was installed as Head of State. Buhari’s regime emphasised discipline and anti-corruption but was criticised for its authoritarian tendencies.
The 1985 Coup – Babangida Takes Power
On 27 August 1985, another faction of the armed forces removed Buhari from office. Led by Chief of Army Staff Major General Ibrahim Babangida, the coup was justified as necessary to reinvigorate Nigeria’s struggling economy and reform governance. Babangida replaced the existing military council with a new governing body and ushered in a period of protracted military rule.
The 1993 Coup – Abacha Assumes Control
The political crisis following the annulled June 1993 presidential election led to the installation of an Interim National Government. On 17 November 1993, Defence Minister General Sani Abacha forced Interim President Ernest Shonekan to step down and established a new military regime. Abacha’s rule became one of the most authoritarian periods in Nigeria’s history, marked by decrees restricting judicial review and broad powers to detain individuals without trial.
EXPLORE: Nigerian Civil War
What These Coups Changed in Nigeria
Across these decades, Nigeria’s political and social landscape was repeatedly reshaped. Military rule interrupted constitutional governance, suspended democratic processes and altered public expectations about leadership. Each takeover was framed by its leaders as a corrective measure, often in response to perceived corruption, inefficiency or instability. The frequent changes contributed to weakening institutional continuity and shaped the discourse around governance, accountability and political legitimacy in the decades that followed.
Nigeria’s history of military coups from 1966 to 1993 reveals a pattern of intervention by armed forces that transformed national politics. These events involved coordinated actions by military factions responding to crises, ambitions and institutional challenges. Over time, the narrative shifted from emergency corrective actions to entrenched military governance. Understanding this period is key to recognising how Nigeria’s contemporary political institutions evolved and how the legacy of military rule continues to influence civil-military relations and democratic expectations.
Author’s Note
This article provides a narrative of Nigeria’s military coups and transitions between 1966 and 1993, focusing on the key events and leadership changes that shaped the nation’s political path. It highlights how the armed forces repeatedly intervened in politics, responding to governance challenges, internal dissent and national crises. The coups were pivotal in defining Nigeria’s modern political landscape, illustrating the complex relationship between the military, governance and society.
References
Max Siollun, Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria’s Military Coup Culture (1966‑1976), Algora Publishing
DAWN Commission archive, NIGERIA: Know Your History
