The Coup That Broke Nigeria

Nigeria had only been independent for five years when the country reached a breaking point. Corruption was rising, the regions were drifting apart and trust in the new democracy was fading fast.

In January 1966 a group of young soldiers decided they had seen enough. What followed was the country’s first military coup and the moment that changed Nigeria forever.

This episode takes you through the chaos of that night. You’ll see how the plot came together, why key leaders were targeted and how a mission meant to “save” Nigeria ended up tearing the country open. From the first gunshots in Lagos to the tense hours that followed in Kaduna, the nation found itself facing a crisis it wasn’t prepared for.

We break down the motives, the mistakes and the chain reaction that set off years of fear, suspicion and more coups. If you want to understand why Nigeria’s politics became so turbulent, you have to start here. This is the coup that lit the fuse.

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