Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi

Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi GCFR MVO MBE
2nd Head of State of Nigeria
In office 16 January 1966 – 29 July 1966
Chief of Staff	Babafemi Ogundipe
Preceded by	Nnamdi Azikiwe
Succeeded by	Yakubu Gowon
General Officer Commanding, Nigerian Army
In office February 1965 – 15 January 1966
President	Nnamdi Azikiwe
Prime Minister	Tafawa Balewa
Preceded by	Christopher Welby-Everard
Succeeded by	Yakubu Gowon
Personal details
Born	(1924-03-03)3 March 1924 Umuahia, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now in Abia State, Nigeria)
Died	29 July 1966(1966-07-29) (aged 42) Lalupon, Western Region (now in Oyo State), Nigeria
Political party	None (military)
Spouse	Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi
Occupation	Military officer
Awards	Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic Member of the Royal Victorian Order Member of the Order of the British Empire
Nickname	"Ironside"[1]
Military service
Allegiance	British Empire (to 1960)  Nigeria
Branch/service	Nigerian Army
Years of service	1942–1966
Rank	Major general
Unit	Commander, 2nd Brigade
Commands	Force Commander, ONUC

Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi GCFR MVO MBE (3 March 1924 – 29 July 1966) was a Nigerian general who was the first military head of state of Nigeria. He was appointed to head the country after the 15 January 1966 military coup.

He ruled from 16 January 1966,^[2] until his assassination on 29th July in the same year, by a group of mutinous Northern Nigerian officers and men. The revolt was led by Major Murtala Mohammed and included Captain Theophilus Danjuma, Lieutenant Muhammadu Buhari, Lieutenant Ibrahim Babangida and Lieutenant Sani Abacha and became popularly referred to as the July counter-coup.^[3]