Valentine Esegragbo Melvine Strasser (born on 26 April 1967 in
Freetown,
Sierra Leone) served as
head of state of
Sierra Leone from 1992 to 1996. He had been a junior
military officer but in 1992, he became the world's youngest Head of State when he seized power three days after his 25th birthday. He was the leading member in a group of six young Sierra Leonean
soldiers who overthrew president
Joseph Saidu Momoh in the 29 April 1992
military coup. They established a military
junta called the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC).