Murtala Ramat Muhammed;8 November 1938 –13 February 1976) was a Nigerian general who led the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup in overthrowing the Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi military regime and featured prominently during the Nigerian Civil War and thereafter ruled over 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 politics.
Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo is a Nigerian retired military officer 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 retired Nigerian army general and military leader. As head of state of Nigeria,Gowon presided over a controversial Nigerian Civil War and delivered the famous "no victor,no vanquished" speech at the war's end to promote healing and reconciliation. The Nigerian Civil War is listed as one of the deadliest in modern history,with some accusing Gowon of crimes against humanity and genocide. Gowon maintains that he committed no wrongdoing during the war and that his leadership saved the country.
Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi was a Nigerian military officer who was the first military head of state of Nigeria. He seized power during the ensuing chaos 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.
Joseph Nanven Garba was a Nigerian general,diplomat,and politician who served as president of the United Nations General Assembly from 1989 to 1990. He served as federal commissioner for external affairs from 1975 to 1978,commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy from 1978 to 1979 and commander of the Brigade of Guards from 1968 to 1975.
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 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 coup d'états. Since the country became a republic in 1963,there has been a series of military coups in Nigeria.
Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi is a Nigerian politician and diplomat who previously served as minister of state for Defence. 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.
Hassan Usman Katsina,titled Chiroman Katsina,was a Nigerian general who was the last Governor of Northern Nigeria. He served as Chief of Army Staff during the Nigerian Civil War and later became the Deputy Chief of Staff,Supreme Headquarters.
The 1966 Nigerian counter-coup was the second of many military coups in Nigeria. It was masterminded by Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed and many northern military officers. The coup began as a mutiny at roughly midnight on 28 July 1966 and was a reaction to the killings of Northern politicians and officers by some soldiers on 15 January 1966. The July mutiny/counter 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 barracks 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 he played a major role in Nigeria's legal history and politics from the late 1940s until 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.
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.
Victoria Nwanyiocha Aguyi-Ironsi was the second First Lady of Nigeria from 16 January 1966 to 29 July 1966.
The following is a list of events in 1977 in Nigeria.
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 has a NATO-code of OF-9,and 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 