The Counter-Coup of 29 July 1966, led predominantly by Northern military officers, was driven by suspicions that the 15 January 1966 coup had ethnic and sectional motivations. The initial coup resulted in the deaths of several political leaders and military officers, most of whom were Westerners and Northerners. Following this, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi assumed power as Head of State and his handling of the coup plotters raised concerns. Many believed he was excessively lenient, as the perpetrators were neither punished in accordance with military justice nor held accountable beyond imprisonment.

Adding to the growing tension, General Ironsi introduced the Unification Decree abolishing regionalism and federalism in favor of a unitary system. This decision triggered deep suspicion and resentment among Northern leaders, who feared that the , but his Igbo ethnic group was attempting to dominate the country. Figures such as Chief Gabriel Onyuike and Professor Ben Nwabueze were alleged to have masterminded the abolition of the federal structure, intensifying perceptions of ethnic favoritism.

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These grievances culminated in the violent counter-coup of 29 July 1966, during which General Ironsi and Lt. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi were assassinated. This coup ushered in Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon as Head of State, marking the beginning of Northern dominance in Nigeria’s military leadership. The aftermath saw widespread violence, particularly targeting Igbo soldiers and civilians, further entrenching ethnic divisions and setting the stage for the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970).

While Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu’s refusal to recognize the Federal Military Government under General Gowon was a significant factor leading to the Civil War, it was not the sole cause. One of the major grievances was the failure to implement the Aburi Accord, which had been negotiated in Ghana between the Federal Military Government and the Eastern Regional Government.

The breakdown of these negotiations, alongside mounting ethnic tensions, retaliatory violence, and distrust between regions, collectively pushed Nigeria into a full-scale conflict.