By Clement Abayomi
Nigeria’s political past cannot be divorced from the continuous threats of military involvement. Both successful and failed coups have influenced national administration for more than six decades. Reports from Historical Yoruba (via The Sun Newspaper), PENGlobal and Britannica show a disturbing history defined by mutinies, assassination plots, counter-coups, and continuous conflicts that still reverberate into the present day.
The January 1966 Coup
Nigeria’s first military coup on January 15, 1966, championed by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, was triggered by accusations of corruption and mismanagement by the First Republic government (The Sun Newspaper and PENGlobal). The coup resulted in the assassination of prominent leaders (Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Premier Ahmadu Bello, Premier S.L. Akintola, and Finance Minister Festus Okotie-Eboh). Although there was partial success, the coup was poorly coordinated, especially in the northern region, leading to accusations of ethnic bias. Eventually, Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi assumed power, which marked the beginning of Nigeria’s long era of military influence.
The 1975 Bloodless Coup and the 1976 Buka Suka Dimka Attempt
On July 29, 1975, General Yakubu Gowon was peacefully removed from office while attending an OAU summit abroad. Reports from PENGlobal state that General Murtala Mohammed took over without any loss of life, appointing Olusegun Obasanjo and Theophilus Danjuma to key positions.
Barely six months later, a violent counter-move began. On February 13, 1976, Lieutenant Colonel Bukar Suka Dimka attempted an overthrow, assassinating Murtala Mohammed in Lagos. According to The Sun Newspaper, Dimka’s plot collapsed swiftly, and he, alongside 38 soldiers and one civilian, was executed. Civilians such as Helen Gomwalk and Abdulkareem Zakari were also convicted, showing the depth of the tribunal’s crackdown.
Babangida’s 1985 Palace Coup and the Execution of Vatsa (1986)
On August 27, 1985, General Ibrahim Babangida overthrew Buhari in what Britannica describes as a bloodless palace coup. Babangida promised economic revival and political restructuring, though he later interfered heavily in the democratic transition process. PENGlobal further records the 1986 abortive coup led by General Mamman Vatsa (Babangida’s childhood friend) who was executed alongside other officers after a military tribunal verdict on treason.
Read Also:
Benin opposition raises alarm over sovereignty after failed coup
Coup: Senate backs Tinubu’s request to deploy military to Benin
Lagos vows strict accountability for digital GBV
The Gideon Orkar Coup of 1990: Nigeria’s Bloodiest Failed Coup
Reports from The Sun Newspaper and PENGlobal describe the April 22, 1990 coup attempt by Major Gideon Orkar as one of Nigeria’s most controversial and violent. Orkar seized the FRCN radio station and announced the removal of some northern states from Nigeria. Loyal troops suppressed the rebellion, but not before nine loyal soldiers were killed. In the aftermath, 69 soldiers were tried, and 42 were executed by firing squad (the largest mass execution of coup plotters in Nigeria’s history).
The 1993 Abacha Takeover and the Collapse of the Transition Programme
Following records from PENGlobal and Britannica, General Sani Abacha’s November 17, 1993 coup removed Interim President Ernest Shonekan. The move followed Babangida’s annulment of the free and fair June 12, 1993 election won by MKO Abiola. Britannica emphasises that Abacha suspended democratic processes, repressed opposition, detained Abiola when he declared himself president, and ruled with unchecked force until his sudden death in 1998. His reign marked one of the darkest periods of military intervention in Nigeria.
Suspicious Plots and Rumours in the Fourth Republic (2004–2023)
The Sun Newspaper report notes that in 2004, under President Olusegun Obasanjo, rumours circulated about a coup plot involving retired and serving officers with links to the Abacha era. Though never fully disclosed, the period revealed the tension between military interference and civilian government. Similarly, between 2015 and 2023, during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, recurring intelligence warnings revealed discontent within the military, though no active coup attempt materialised.
The 2025 Alleged Coup Rumour Under President Bola Tinubu
In October 2025, The Sun reported that 16 military officers were allegedly arrested for plotting a coup timed to coincide with Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary on October 1. The Defence Headquarters swiftly dismissed the reports as “false and misleading,” clarifying that the officers were being investigated for professional misconduct rather than treason. Nonetheless, President Bola Tinubu reshuffled top security chiefs, an effort that has been considered as an attempt to reinforce military stability. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) warned against using coup narratives as political instruments to suppress dissent.
Looking at the foregoing, the patterns from 1966 to 2025 show that even unsuccessful coups have in one way or the other influenced Nigeria’s military system, political direction, and democratic process. These influences exposed systemic issues such as corruption and ethnic conflict. The rumours in recent years show that Nigeria must continue strengthening and nurturing democratic culture to ensure lasting stability.