Nigeria has a long history of political violence dating back to its colonial period. After gaining independence from Britain in 1960, the country has experienced numerous instances of political violence, ranging from military coups and counter-coups to ethnic and religious conflicts.
Here are some key events in the history of political violence in Nigeria:
- The First Military Coup (1966): On January 15, 1966, a group of young military officers led by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu staged a coup that overthrew the democratically elected government of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. The coup led to the deaths of several political leaders from the Northern and Western regions of the country, including Balewa.
- The Biafran War (1967-1970): The Biafran War was a secessionist conflict fought between the Nigerian government and the breakaway state of Biafra, which was led by Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu. The war was sparked by ethnic tensions between the Igbo people, who were the majority in the secessionist region, and other ethnic groups in Nigeria. The conflict resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1 million people, mostly civilians.
- The Second Military Coup (1975): On July 29, 1975, General Murtala Mohammed led a group of military officers in a coup that overthrew General Yakubu Gowon, who had been Nigeria’s military ruler since 1966. The coup led to the deaths of several high-ranking military officers.
- The Maitatsine Uprising (1980-1985): The Maitatsine Uprising was a series of violent clashes between the Nigerian government and the followers of a Muslim fundamentalist preacher named Mohammed Marwa, also known as Maitatsine. The conflict resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, mostly in the city of Kano.
- The June 12 Election Crisis (1993): In June 1993, Nigeria held what was widely considered to be its freest and fairest election ever, which was won by business tycoon Moshood Abiola. However, the election was annulled by the military government led by General Ibrahim Babangida, leading to protests and violence across the country.
- The Niger Delta Insurgency (2003-2009): The Niger Delta Insurgency was a conflict between the Nigerian government and armed groups in the Niger Delta region who were fighting for a greater share of the region’s oil wealth. The conflict led to the deaths of thousands of people and the displacement of millions.
- Boko Haram Insurgency (2009-present): Boko Haram is a jihadist group that has been waging an insurgency against the Nigerian government since 2009. The group seeks to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria and has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks, including the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Chibok in 2014.
These are just some of the key events in the history of political violence in Nigeria. The country continues to face numerous challenges related to governance, corruption, and ethnic and religious tensions, which have contributed to the ongoing cycle of violence in the country.
Submitted by ADE for Naijatipsland
