Nigerian Coup Plotter: Murtala Muhammed

Brigadier General Murtala Rufai Mohammed, the new head of state, with Brigadier Obasanjo his Chief of Staff (right) arriving for an inspection at the former Head of States residence in Dodan Barracks July 31, 1975. He announced today in his first public address that ‘all other officers of the rank of Major General or above would be retired.' Image: Bettmann Archives