<P> The 1966 Nigerian coup d'état began on January 15 , 1966 , when mutinous Nigerian soldiers led by Kaduna Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna killed 22 people including the Prime Minister of Nigeria , many senior politicians , many senior Army officers ( including their wives ) , and sentinels on protective duty . The coup plotters attacked the cities of Kaduna , Ibadan , and Lagos while also blockading the Niger and Benue River within a two - day span of time before the coup plotters were subdued . The General Officer Commanding , of the Nigerian Army , Johnson Aguiyi - Ironsi then used the coup as a pretext to annex power , ending Nigeria 's nascent democracy . It was one of the events that led to the Nigerian Civil War . </P>
<P> The 1966 Nigerian coup d'état began on January 15 , 1966 , when mutinous Nigerian soldiers led by Kaduna Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna killed 22 people including the Prime Minister of Nigeria , many senior politicians , many senior Army officers ( including their wives ) , and sentinels on protective duty . The coup plotters attacked the cities of Kaduna , Ibadan , and Lagos while also blockading the Niger and Benue River within a two - day span of time before the coup plotters were subdued . The General Officer Commanding , of the Nigerian Army , Johnson Aguiyi - Ironsi then used the coup as a pretext to annex power , ending Nigeria 's nascent democracy . It was one of the events that led to the Nigerian Civil War . </P>
who led the first coup d'etat in nigeria
who led the first coup d'etat in nigeria
Kaduna Nzeogwu Emmanuel Ifeajuna
Kaduna Nzeogwu Emmanuel Ifeajuna