1966 Nigerian counter-coup

According to historian, Max Siollun northern soldiers had a list of grievances 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. ==Coup participants==

The principal coup plotters were: • Lt. Colonel Joseph Akahan (Commander, 4th Battalion Ibadan) • Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed (Inspector of Signals, Lagos) • Major Theophilus Danjuma (Principal Staff Officer, Army HQ, Lagos) • Major Abba Kyari (Artillery, Kaduna) • Major Martin Adamu (2nd Battalion Lagos) • Major Shittu Alao (Nigerian Airforce HQ, Lagos) • Major Musa Usman (Nigerian Air Force, Lagos) • Captain Joseph Garba (Federal Guards Lagos) • Captain Isa Bukar (Federal Guards Lagos) • Captain Ibrahim Taiwo (Lagos Garrison Yaba) • Captain Baba Usman GSO (Grade II, Army HQ, Lagos) • Captain Abdul D.S. Wya (3rd Battalion, Kaduna) • Lieutenant Muhammadu Buhari (2 Brigade Lagos) • Lieutenant Ibrahim Babangida (1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Kaduna) • Lieutenant Ibrahim Bako (4th Battalion, Ibadan) • Lieutenant William Walbe (2nd Battalion, Lagos) • Lieutenant Mamman Vatsa (4th Battalion, Ibadan) • Lieutenant Buka Suka Dimka (Nigerian Military Training College Kaduna) • Lieutenant Yakubu Dambo (3rd Battalion Kaduna) • Lieutenant Garba A. Dada (Adjutant 4th Battalion Ibadan) • Lieutenant Garba Duba (1 Reconnaissance Squadron Kaduna) • Lieutenant Mohammed Balarabe Haladu (4th Battalion, Ibadan) • Lieutenant Malami Mahe Nassarawa (2nd Battalion, Lagos) • Lieutenant James Onoja (4th Battalion, Ibadan) • Lieutenant Abdulahhi Shelleng (Company Commander, 4th Battalion, Ibadan) • Lieutenant Paul Chabri Tarfa (Federal Guards, Lagos) • Lieutenant Alfred Gom (2nd Battalion, Lagos) • Lieutenant Nuhu Nathan • Lieutenant Jonathan Longboem • Lieutenant D.S. Abubakar (Abeokuta Garrison) • Second Lieutenant Sani Abacha (3rd Battalion Kaduna) • Second Lieutenant Muhammadu Gado Nasko (Artillery, Kaduna) • Sergeant Paul Dickson • Sergeant Sabo Kwale (Abeokuta Garrison) • Corporal Alimi Faheem (2nd Reconnaissance Squadron, Abeokuta) ==See also==