Former Nigerian military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has stated that the first coup in Nigeria, which took place in 1966, should not be labeled an “Igbo coup.”
Speaking in a recent interview, Babangida emphasized that while key figures in the coup, including Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, were of Igbo ethnicity, the coup itself was not ethnically motivated. He noted that officers from different regions participated in the coup, and its primary aim was to address governance issues rather than advance an ethnic agenda.
The January 15, 1966 coup led to the assassination of top political and military leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello. The aftermath of the coup fueled ethnic tensions and ultimately contributed to the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970).
Babangida’s statement comes amid ongoing debates about Nigeria’s history and the role of ethnic narratives in shaping national unity. His remarks have sparked reactions from historians and political analysts, with some agreeing with his position while others argue that the coup had lasting ethnic implications.
