Description: (Nigerian General Who Was the Country's First Military Head of State)
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, a Nigerian general, became the first military head of state of Nigeria after the 15 January 1966 military coup. He governed from 16 January 1966 until his assassination on 29 July of the same year. During his brief time in power, he focused on stabilizing the country following the earlier coup. However, his leadership was cut short by a counter-coup orchestrated by rebellious Northern Nigerian officers such as Major Murtala Mohammed, Captain Theophilus Danjuma, and Lieutenant Muhammadu Buhari.