Murtala Ramat Muhammed;8 November 1938 –13 February 1976) was a Nigerian military officer and the fourth head of state of Nigeria. He led the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup in overthrowing the military regime of Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi and featured prominently during the Nigerian Civil War and thereafter ruled Nigeria from 29 July 1975 until his assassination on 13 February 1976. This period in Nigerian history,from the Northern counter-coup victory to Murtala's death,is commonly associated with the institutionalization of the military in Nigerian politics.
Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo is a Nigerian general and statesman who served as Nigeria's head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its president from 1999 to 2007. Ideologically a Nigerian nationalist,he was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 1998 to 2015,and since 2018.
Yakubu Dan-Yumma "Jack" Gowon is a Nigerian former Head of State and statesman who led the Federal military government war efforts during the Nigerian Civil War.
Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi was a Nigerian general who was the first military head of state of Nigeria. He was appointed to head the country after the 15 January 1966 military coup.
Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Chukwuma "Kaduna" Nzeogwu was a Nigerian military officer who played a leading role in the 1966 Nigerian coup d'état,which overthrew the First Nigerian Republic.
Lieutenant Colonel Bukar Suwa Dimka was a Nigerian military officer who played a leading role in the 13 February 1976 abortive military coup against the government of General Murtala Ramat Muhammed. Dimka had also participated in the Nigerian counter-coup of 1966 which toppled the government of General Aguiyi Ironsi.
The military dictatorship in Nigeria was a period when members of the Nigerian Armed Forces held power in Nigeria from 1966 to 1999 with an interregnum from 1979 to 1983. The military was able to rise to power often with the tacit support of the elite through coups d'état. Since the country became a republic in 1963,there had been a series of military coups.
Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi is a career diplomat who was appointed by President Obasanjo to serve as a technocrat minister.He held the position of Minister of State for Defence from January to May 2007 and later became Minister of Defence,making him the first Igbo person to hold this role in over 40 years.He is the son of former military leader Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi,and was the ambassador to Togo before former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him to succeed Roland Oritsejafor as Minister of state for Defence.
The 1966 Nigerian Counter-coup was the second of many military coups in Nigeria. It was masterminded by Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed and many other northern military officers. The coup began as a mutiny at roughly midnight of 28 July 1966 and was a reaction to the killings of Northern politicians and officers by some soldiers on 15 January 1966. The coup resulted in the murder of Nigeria's first military Head of State General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi and Lt Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi in Ibadan by disgruntled northern non-commissioned officers (NCOs). Upon the termination of Ironsi's government,Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon was appointed Head of State by the coup conspirators.
Dodan Barracks is a military barrack located in Ikoyi,Lagos,Nigeria. The barrack was the Supreme Military Headquarters during the Nigerian Civil War and from 1966 to 1979 and 1983 to 1985,Dodan Barracks was the official residence of the military heads of state of the Nigerian military juntas of 1966–79 and 1983–99,and also the Supreme Military Headquarters from 1966 until the move to Abuja in 1991.
Chief Victor Babaremilekun Adetokunboh Fani-Kayode,Q.C.,SAN,CON was a leading Nigerian politician,aristocrat,nationalist,statesman and lawyer. He was elected deputy premier of the Western Region of Nigeria in 1963 and played a major role in Nigeria's legal history and politics from the late 1940s until his death in 1995.
Ibrahim Taiwo was a Military Governor of Kwara State from July 1975 to February 1976 during the military regime of General Murtala Mohammed. He assisted in establishment of the University of Ilorin,which was founded by decree August,1975.
David Medayese Jemibewon is a retired Nigerian Army major general who served as military governor of the now defunct Western State during the military regime of General Murtala Muhammed,governor of Oyo State after it had been created from part of the old Western State during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo,and later as Minister of Police Affairs in the cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo after the return to democracy. He was a contender for the Kogi West Senatorial District in Kogi State.
Harris Otadafevwerha Deodemise Eghagha was a Nigerian general who was appointed military governor of Ogun State,Nigeria from July 1978 to October 1979 during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo,handing over power to the elected governor Olabisi Onabanjo at the start of the Nigerian Second Republic.
William Walbe,was a colonel in the Nigerian Army who served as the military aide-de-camp (ADC) to General Yakubu Gowon,the third Nigerian Head of State.
On 15 January 1966,rebellious soldiers carrying out a military putsch led by Kaduna Nzeogwu and 4 others,killed 22 people including the prime minister of Nigeria,many senior politicians,senior Army officers and 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 timespan,before being overcome by loyalist forces.
Ibrahim Ahmed Bako was a senior officer in the Nigerian Army who played a principal role in two Nigerian military coups:the July 1966 counter-coup and the December 1983 coup. The 1983 coup ousted the democratic government of Shehu Shagari while the July 1966 coup ousted the military government of General Ironsi. Bako was killed during the December 1983 coup d'état.
Victoria Nwanyiocha Aguyi-Ironsi was the second First Lady of Nigeria from 16 January 1966 to 29 July 1966.
General is the highest rank achievable by serving officers of the Nigerian Army. It ranks above lieutenant-general and is subordinate to the rank of field marshal,which is only awarded as an honorary rank to the incumbent president of Nigeria in his capacity as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The rank of general is a four-star rank. It is equivalent to a full admiral in the Nigerian Navy or an air chief marshal in the Nigerian Air Force.
Nigerian Army 
Lieutenant general 