A military coup is the forceful, violent or non violent way of taking over power from government in power by those in the military. Nigeria just like some other countries have witnessed this event many times.
Here we try to analyze the military coups witnessed in Nigeria over the years.

1. FIRST MILITARY COUP IN NIGERIA
On the early morning of January 15, 1966, major Kaduna Chukwuma Nzeogwu led a military coup against the political elites, whom the people have laid various degrees of complaints against. The coup was predominantly led by Army Officers from the east. It succeeded in Kaduna the northern region capital, it failed in Lagos the federal capital and also Ibadan the western regional capital. The coup partially happened in Benin the Midwestern capital, and Enugu the capital of the eastern region.

2. THE SECOND MILITARY COUP IN NIGERIA
This coup is popularly known as the Nigerian counter-coup of 1966, it happened on 29 July, 1966. It was led by Lieutenant Colonel Murtala Mohammed. This led to the death of Major General J.T.U Aguiyi Ironsi, who took over as the head of state after the first coup took place. The second military coup led to the Nigeria civil war which lasted for thirty months with General Yakubu Gowon being the head of state.

3. THE THIRD MILITARY COUP IN NIGERIA
In July 30, 1975, General Yakubu Gowon was over throne in a palace coup which brought then Brigadier Murtala Mohammed to power as head of state. The coup was a bloodless coup, General Murtala Mohammed was also the brain behind the coup.

4. THE FOURTH MILITATY COUP
Widely known as the “Dimka coup”, the coup was bloody and also was unsuccessful coup. it led to the death of General Murtala Mohammed, other officers who also died are Col. Ibrahim Taiwo, Governor of Kwara state and Lt. Akintunde Akinsehinwa, ADC to Murtala Mohammed. The coup led to the arrest of many people and execution of one civilian and 38 soldiers.

5. THE FIFTH MILITARY COUP IN NIGERIA
This happened on 31st of December 1983, when General Mohammed Buhari staged a coup which led to the ousting of the democratically elected government led by Shehu Shagari. The coup led to the death of Brigadier Ibrahim Bako, who is seen as a loyal officer to the government.

6. THE SIXTH MILITARY COUP
On the 27th of August 1985, a palace coup led by the then chief of Army staff, Major General Ibrahim Babangida who overthrew the administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari.



7. THE SEVENTH MILITARY COUP
General Mamman Vatsa led an abortive coup in 1986 to overthrew the Government of President Babangida. After that many military officers in their hundred were arrested, some were tried, convicted and eventually executed for conspiracy.

8. THE EIGHT MILITARY COUP
On 22 April 1990, Gideon Orka carried out an unsuccessful coup to unsit the government of Ibrahim Babangida. The coup attempt has been described as one of the bloodliest coup and its aftermath witnessed the largest execution of coup plotters in the nations history.

9. THE NINTH MILITARY COUP
General Sani Abacha staged a palace coup in 1993 that overthrew the Shonekans transitional administration that only lasted for three months. General Sani Abacha later turned out to be the greatest dictactor.

1993 ALLEGED COUP
Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Umar attempted a coup on October 2nd 1993.

1995 ALLEGED COUP
There was an alleged coup plot which involves General Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd), former head of state Major General Shehu Musa Yaradua (rtd) and other notable Nigerians which are mainly Army officers. The civilians with them include Beko Ransome Kuti and others.

1996 ALLEGED COUP
General Abacha accused some top military officers in December 1996 of an alleged coup. Prominent among them are Oladipo Biya, Gen. Abdulkarim Hadissa and others. He set up a twelve man committee to determine if indeed there was a coup plot.

SUMMARY
Nigeria witnessed the following:
· Five successful coups
· Two Abortive coups
· One attempted coup

· Three alleged coup

Source:http://www.nuelsblog.com/2016/05/military-coups-witnessed-in-nigeria.html

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