a series of ethnic clashes between northern muslims and the igbo, and other ethnic groups of eastern nigeria region living in northern nigeria took place between 1966 and 1967. elements in the army had assassinated the nigerian military head of state general johnson aguiyi-ironsi (29 july 1966) and peace negotiations failed between the military government that deposed ironsi and the regional government of eastern nigeria at the aburi talks in ghana in 1967.