Family Seeks FG’s Apology, Compensation Over Aguiyi-Ironsi’s Assassination

The family of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, the late General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, has called on the Federal Government to issue a formal apology and pay compensation over his assassination in 1966.

The demand was made by the head of the Aguiyi-Ironsi family, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Thursday.

Imo, who is the late Head of State’s nephew, said the family had yet to receive a sincere apology from the government despite the circumstances surrounding Aguiyi-Ironsi’s death.

He described the former military leader as a detribalised and visionary officer who accepted the responsibility of leading the country after the January 1966 coup because he was the most senior military officer at the time.

According to him, Aguiyi-Ironsi neither participated in the coup nor seized power unlawfully, but responded to a national call to stabilise the country before he was assassinated six months later.

“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 not 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.

Aguiyi-Ironsi became Nigeria’s first military Head of State following the January 1966 coup, which ended the country’s parliamentary system of government.

The coup claimed the lives of then Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and several senior military officers.

Aguiyi-Ironsi was later killed during the July 1966 counter-coup, which brought his six-month administration to an end.

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