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.
Reasons for the counter-coup
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 murder of northern civilian leaders and military officers in the aborted 15 January 1966, coup d'etat
The 15 January 1966, coup conspirators (mostly Majors) had not been tried for treason and were being paid while in detention.
The passage of the Unification Decree.
Rumors of an "Igbo coup" to eliminate northern soldiers.
The promotion of several Igbo Majors to Lt.
Colonel.
Rumors of General Aguiyi-Ironsi's ethnic favoritism toward Igbos.
Plans to swap the 1st and 4th
battalions and plans to rotate the military governors of the different regions.