Major General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi is seen in a photo saying goodbye to the Congo at Leopoldville, which is now Kinshasa. He led the United Nations Operation in the Congo (Opération des Nations Unies du Congo) as its fifth and last Force Commander.
On Tuesday, June 30, 1964, he was photographed standing on the gangway of a Lebanese transport jet that had been rented to bring him and 85 Nigerian troops back to Lagos. Following an expensive operation that cost $420 million and did not result in enduring peace in the Congo, Ironsi and his men were the last UN troops to depart the country. Before leaving, he spoke to reporters.
“Keep this day in mind,” Ironsi added. An era is coming to an end. My boys are excited to get home. I am, too. A New York Times article characterized Ironsi as “a somewhat eccentric, British-trained, tough professional soldier who carries a stuffed baby crocodile as a swagger stick” when he eventually became Nigeria’s military Head of State after a coup in January 1966. He gave the crocodile the nickname “Charlie.” Regretfully, on July 29, 1966, Northern Nigerian soldiers rebelled and killed Major General Ironsi.He was only in office for 194 days.