1966 coup: We need apology, compensation – Aguiyi Ironsi family

31 Jul 2026, 07:04 by Winifred Austin · Daily Post

The family of the first military Head of State, General Aguiyi Ironsi, has demanded an apology and compensation from the Federal Government of Nigeria over the assassination of the son.

Head of the family, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, who is the nephew of the deceased, made the demand when he appeared as a guest in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ on Thursday.

He said described the former Head of State as a detribalized, good leader and a man of vision, decrying that he only occupied the seat for only six months before he was killed.

According to him, there was no sincere apology from the Nigerian Government for the assassination of their son, who never committed any crime.

“The only crime he committed was that he was the most senior officer at the time. And he was called upon to take over after the coup. He did no take part in the coup. He accepted the call to serve his fatherland before he was gruesomely assassinated.

“After he was assassinated, people moved on. The family needs to be compensated, given a sincere apology, and reconciliation,” he said.

DAILY POST reports that Aguyi Ironsi became Nigeria’s Head of State after the 1966 coup, which dissolved the parliamentary system of government Nigeria was practicing.

The coup led to the killing of the Nigeria’s Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and other senior military officers.

1966 coup: We need apology, compensation – Aguiyi Ironsi family

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