In January 1966, Nigeria witnessed one of the darkest and most defining moments in its history — the first military coup. What began as a bold attempt by a group of young army officers to “save” the nation quickly spiraled into chaos, bloodshed, and political instability that would shape Nigeria for decades.
Top political leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Northern Premier Ahmadu Bello, and Western Premier Samuel Akintola, were assassinated in cold blood. The coup, led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and others, was supposed to end corruption and bring unity. Instead, it unleashed ethnic mistrust, sparked retaliation, and set the stage for the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970).
