The 1966 COUP D ETAT In Nigeria and its aftermath

The crises in the western Region in 1962 and other ones that continued up to 1964 which made the western Region to be addressed as the "Wild Wild West" and other fissiparous tendencies in other parts of the country no doubt prepared the ground for what happened on January 15 1966. On that very day,at midnight, a group of young and educated majors in the Nigerian Army took three capitals of four of the Regions like a storm. They were led by Major chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. The insurrection led to the assassination of the premier of the Northern Region,Sir Ahmadu Bello, that of the western Regime,Chief S.L.Akintola, Federal Minister of finance Chief festus okotie-Ebo and of course the country's prime minister,sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. The last two were kidnapped and taken to unknown destinations where their bodies were discovered by the villagers after some days.The coupists did not succeed in seizing power at Lagos as their efforts were thwarted by the General officer commanding Nigerian Army at that time General Aguiyi ironsi.On the whole the effect of the 1966 events in Nigeria was legalizing a successful coup de etat whether crafted and executed by men uniform or civilians or whether violent or peaceful. There was also a counter coup in July 15 1966 and this led to the killing of the then head of state general aguiyi ironsi and large number of Igbos in the north and south region it also led to the civil war which lasted between 1967-1970.