Date: January 16, 1966.
On January 16, 1966, the Federal Military Government (FMG) of Nigeria was established following a coup d’état that overthrew the civilian government of Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. This coup, led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and other young military officers, resulted in the assassination of several key political and military leaders, including the Prime Minister, Premier of the Northern Region (Ahmadu Bello), and Premier of the Western Region (Samuel Akintola).
In the aftermath of the coup, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, who was the highest-ranking military officer at the time and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army, took control of the situation. He successfully suppressed the coup, arrested some of its key masterminds, and assumed power as the Head of State and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
On May 24, 1966, Aguiyi-Ironsi issued Decree No. 34, which replaced Nigeria’s federal structure with a unitary system of government. This move was unpopular, especially in the Northern Region, as it was seen as an attempt to concentrate power at the center and diminish regional autonomy.
The military regime faced significant resistance, particularly from northern elites who felt marginalized. Many in the North viewed the coup as ethnically biased, as most of the key politicians killed were from the North, while most of the coup plotters were Igbo.
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