In the early hours of 15th January, 1966, a group of young army officers, mostly from the Igbo ethnic group, led what is now known as the First Military Coup in Nigeria. The coup was aimed at overthrowing the civilian government headed by Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, whom the plotters accused of corruption,…

In the early hours of 31st December, 1983, a military coup coordinated by key officers of the Nigerian military led to the ousting of the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari and the installation of Major General Muhammadu Buhari as head of state. One key figure in the Shehu Shagari government was Umaru Abdulrahman…

The execution of Ken Saro Wiwa on November 10, 1995, remains one of the darkest moments in Nigeria's history. The renowned writer and environmental activist was a thorn in the flesh of the Nigerian government, particularly the military regime led by General Sani Abacha. His campaign against the exploitation and degradation of the Ogoni people's…

At about 12.30am on April 22, 1990, a group of soldiers met at a civilian warehouse in Ikorodu area of Lagos for a final briefing. Thereafter, they fanned out into different directions using civilian Peugeot J5 buses. The first group of soldiers had the task to secure weapons. This they accomplished by first taking control…

In the early hours of 15th January, 1966, a group of young army officers, mostly from the Igbo ethnic group, led what is now known as the First Military Coup in Nigeria. The coup was aimed at overthrowing the civilian government headed by Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, whom the plotters accused of corruption,…

Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa was a highly decorated officer in the Nigerian Army, with a distinguished career that spanned several decades. He was a close friend and ally of General Ibrahim Babangida, who had assumed power in a military coup in 1985. However, despite their close relationship, Vatsa was accused of plotting a coup…