He had just finished grammar school and started training as a veterinary assistant at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in south-eastern Nigeria, when the civil war began. "Even the Vatican sent representatives.". Asked whether she harboured any resentment towards them, the businesswoman shook her head. They were painted in green camouflage and armed with two Matra Type122 rocket pods, each being able to carry six 68mm SNEB anti-armour rockets under each wing and had SwedishWW2reflex sights from oldFFVS J 22s. Read about our approach to external linking. On 15 January 1970, the conflict officially ended. "We thought we were magicians," said 76-year-old Mr Ago. [32]The bank carried out all central banking functions including the administration of foreign exchange and the management of the public debt of the Republic. 6:08 AM EST, Thu January 16, 2020. See Madiebo pages 260 to 261. Not everything captured could be brought across the river but that which was brought back included 100,000 rounds of ammunition, 50 bicycles, 3 battery charging machines, 4 wireless sets, 2 typewriters, 300 rounds of 105mm shells, 2 anti-aircraft guns and ammunition, a few weapons and fairly large quantities of food and clothing. The apparent domination of the political system by the North, and the chaos breaking out across the country, motivated elements within the military to consider decisive action. Info: Defence Headquarters, Commander-in-Chief. Nevertheless, the Igbo faced some devastating consequences, particularly economically as the Biafran currency that people had accumulated became worthless. Biafran War veterans remember the conflict 50 years on, "He was a gorgeous person," she said again and again. Police and Army units from Kaduna had to be brought in to restore order. It also had 2 separate brigades, the S Brigade, a Pretorian guard for General Ojukwu,[5] and the 4th Commando Brigade (trained and commanded by mercenaries). But fearing for his safety, he decided not to return to his former location. Professor Boniface Obinna Okere lectures on international humanitarian law and other subjects at the University of Nigeria in Enugu. Njoku, a lawyer is a connoisseur of Biafran War Literature. [27] Biafra was ill-equipped for war, with fewer army personnel and less equipment than the Nigerian military, but had advantages over the Nigerian state as they were fighting in their homeland and had the support of most Biafrans. Wounded Biafran soldiers are transported across a river in June 1968. "The war gave the opportunity to reject the colonial design.". The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Nigerians in Lagos react to news of the Biafrian surrender following the announcement of a ceasefire on January 12, 1970. The Biafrans set up a small, yet effective air force. [28], The FMG attacked Biafra on 6July 1967. [13] In his personal writings from his travels, a Rev. Initially, the final offensive was neutralised by Biafran troops. 2. In July 1966 northern officers and army units staged a coup. 2023 Cable News Network. The Biafran War began in July 1966, and ended in 1970 after more than a million people had been killed, mostly from starvation. The four most senior officers of Northern origin were also killed. Eyiche Adizua was a technician at the Nigerian National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) before the civil war broke out, Oguta lake is the largest natural lake in Imo State, southeast Nigeria. It was headquartered in Kidney Island, Port Harcourt, and was commanded by Winifred Anuku. In September 1969, Biafra acquired four ex-Armee de l'Air North American T-6Gs, which were flown to Biafra the following month, with another T-6 lost on the ferry flight. Lambert Ihenacho, is known as a brilliant and resourceful officer in the Nigerian Army. Nigeria's main reason for going to war was to counter the secession of the Eastern Region (Biafra) from the Republic of Nigeria. After running into unexpected resistance and facing many casualties, the right Nigerian column advanced to Nsukka, which was captured on the 14th of July. He was a physics lecturer at UNN when the civil war began. We intend to stay on and make the supreme sacrifice. Soon the Biafran first Battalion of 58 Brigade was astride Uyo road and the second Battalion had swept through Ibibio Estate College into Ikot Ekpene town. Biafra, officially theRepublic of Biafra, was a secessionist state inWest Africathat existed from May1967 to January1970 during theNigerian Civil War. He was then posted to Signal Corps of the Nigerian Army. The southern population is predominantlyChristian, being primarily made up of territory of the indigenousYorubaand Biafra kingdoms in the West and East respectively. Beatles singer John Lennon returned his MBE in a protest over Britains foreign policy, which included Biafra and the Vietnam war. Biafra at 50: The war that changed Nigeria, 'We fought for Biafra' Video, 00:01:13'We fought for Biafra', 1969: Nigeria bans Red Cross aid to Biafra, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Air strikes pound Sudan capital as truce extended. Some of us, our skin was getting rotten. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the President, of Igbo extraction, and the favored Western Region politicianObafemi Awolowowere not killed. She enjoyed working directly with the Biafran leader, whom she and her colleagues fondly referred to as "Brother OJ". Major-General Hassan Umaru, a Nigerian Army officer, said that the army "would like to send an unequivocal warning to all those threatening and agitating for the dismemberment of the country . "The war was an incredible period," said 82-year-old Mrs Nwanunobi. He is a J.E. His uncle, who was too old to flee town, was murdered, he says. appreciated. Not a single round of ammunition held while enemy pressure continues ceaselessly for the past 48 hours. To: Tactical Army Headquarters. These include but are not limited to Madiebo, Eze and Captain August Okpe, the only one of them in the Biafran Airforce (BAF) who in 2010 published a major book on the air-war between Nigeria and Biafra titled, Biafra: The Last Flight. January 1966 - Nigerian government overthrown in what was seen as an "Igbo coup" led by junior army officers, January 1966 - Lt Col Odumegwu-Ojukwu appointed military governor of Eastern Region, July 1966 - Second coup masterminded by Murtala Muhammed, Lt Col Yakubu Gowon becomes head of state, June to October 1966 - Riots in northern Nigeria targeted at Igbos, killing many and forcing up to a million to return to south-eastern Nigeria, May 1967 - Ojukwu declares independence of the Republic of Biafra, October 1967 - Biafran capital Enugu falls, May 1968 - Nigeria captures oil-rich Port Harcourt, April 1969 - Umuahia, new Biafran capital falls to Nigerian forces. Biafran conflict: A grandmother's perspective on the war. To underscore the disparity between how equipped the Nigerian Forces were during the war compared to Biafran Forces, herein is reproduced an emergency signal sent to the Biafran General Officer Commanding by Colonel Akagha of the 56 Brigade. France provided weapons to Biafra, while the U.K. and the Soviet Union sent arms to the federal government. [1], At the beginning of the Nigerian Civil War, Biafra had 3,000 soldiers. The RAP's most notable product was the "ogbunigwe", a weapons launcher of remarkable and devastating effect which influenced the outcome of many battles in Biafra's favour, according to historical reports. Although sabotage cannot be totally ruled out in a war situation, the political authorities could not admit that despite the gallant and brave efforts of Biafran troops in many battles, the simple truth was that the balance of ammunition tilted heavily in favour of the Nigerians with strong backing from Britain. Exposure to a primary education program mitigates the impacts of war exposure on education. 2, Coscharis Street, Kirikiri industrial Layout, Apapa, Lagos. [58][59]The Nigerian Government, through its broadcasting regulators, the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigerian and Nigerian Communications Commission, has sought to clamp down on Radio Biafra with limited success. Other ethnic groups included theEfik,Ibibio,Annang,Ejagham,Eket,Ibeno,Yako,Bahumonoand theIjaw. [50]MASSOB accuses Nigeria of marginalising Biafran people. For most Nigerians, the war over the breakaway state of Biafra is generally regarded as an unfortunate episode best forgotten, but for the Igbo people who fought for secession, it remains a life-defining event. The federal government, dominated by Northern Nigeria, allowed the crisis to unfold with the intention of declaring a state of emergency and placing the Western Region under martial law. [36], The international humanitarian organisationMdecins Sans Frontiresoriginated in response to the suffering in Biafra. Mrs Nwanunobi spent much of the 1970s in Canada before returning to Nigeria in 1977, where she resumed work as a secondary school teacher. Nigerian leader Maj. Gen. Yakubu Gowon accepted the Biafran surrender and asked all Nigerians to greet the former rebels as brothers. If any meeting lasted more than two hours, he wouldn't be party to it.". After the war, bank accounts owned by Biafrans were seized and a Nigerian panel resolved to give every Igbo person with an account only 20 pounds. In a national broadcast, he said the decision was based on the belief that justice must at all times be tempered with mercy. With the help of other French doctors, Kouchner put Biafra in the media spotlight and called for an international response to the situation. [7], During the war, Biafra tried to acquire jets. Following a UN-supervised referendum in 1961, the northern part of the Trust Territory of the Cameroons joined Nigerias Northern region, while in October the Southern Cameroons united with Cameroun to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. [57], MASSOB leader Chief Ralph Uwazuruike establishedRadio Biafrain theUnited Kingdomin 2009, withNnamdi Kanuas his radio director; later Kanu was said to have been dismissed from MASSOB because of accusations of supporting violence. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [6] After the surrender of Biafra, some Igbos who had fled the conflict returned to their properties but were unable to claim them back from new occupants. As a Biafran Army is was a Major and he commanded Biafran 11th division,11 battalion and Biafran S division respectively. [42]During the crisis,Frenchmedical volunteers, in addition to Biafran health workers and hospitals, were subjected to attacks by the Nigerian army and witnessed civilians being murdered and starved by the blockading forces. Ojukwu says in the letter: "Your role in the . Nigeria led multiple. [60][61]On 23December 2015, Kanu was detained and charged with charges that amounting to treason against the Nigerian state. [76], On 31 July 2020, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra / Biafra Independence Movement (BIM-MASSOB) joined theUnrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization(UNPO).[77][78]. All Rights Reserved. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The currency of Biafra had been the Nigerian pound until the Bank of Biafra started printing out its own notes, the Biafran pound. French doctorBernard Kouchneralso witnessed these events, particularly the huge number of starving children, and, when he returned toFrance, he publicly criticised the Nigerian government and theRed Crossfor their seemingly complicit behaviour. In the months preceding the war, Ojukwu often visited UNN, the only university in south-eastern Nigeria at the time, to meet with students and prepare them for secession. [35]A special guerrilla unit, the Biafran Organization of Freedom Fighters, was established, designed to emulate the insurrectionist guerilla forces of theViet Congin theAmerican Vietnamese War, targeting Nigerian Federal Army supply lines and forcing them to shift forces to internal security efforts. France provided weapons and mercenary fighters to Biafra and promoted their cause internationally, describing the situation as a genocide. Shortly thereafter, federal troops entered Enugu, the provisional capital of Biafra, and penetrated the Igbo heartland. Widespread reports of fraud tarnished the elections legitimacy. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Subsequently, the Biafran Commander-in-Chief posted him to Army Headquarters as Chief of Operations under Madiebo, away from field operations. "Nigeria was programmed by the British colonial authorities not to participate in production and manufacture of global technologies," he wrote in the book. Omissions? The five planes were flown by three Swedish pilots and three Biafran pilots. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. This led to a divisive and bitter war from 1967 to 1970. Estimates of the number of dead from fighting, disease and starvation during the 30-month civil war are estimated at between. [5], At the peak of Biafran military power, the Biafran Army was made of 5 divisions; numbered 11th, 12th, 13th (later renumbered 15th), 14th and 101st. Nigerians in the capital city of Lagos cheer the surrender of the Biafran forces on January 12, 1970. Biafra, named after the Bight at the shores of the Atlantic, in my mind, is one of the greatest nations in black Africa that was destined to be, but unfortunately could only survive for 30 months.. He was 90 years old. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. After he was officially pardoned by the Nigerian government, he returned in 1982, with multitudes pouring onto the streets of his home state of Anambra to welcome him. Nigerian Civil War, also called Nigerian-Biafran War, war between Nigeria 's federal government and the secessionist state Biafra that lasted from 1967 to 1970. [32]The bank was administered by a governor and four directors; the first governor, who signed on bank notes, wasSylvester Ugoh. It was headquartered in Kidney Island, Port Harcourt, and was commanded by Winifred Anuku. But survivors like Adizua are cautious about the possibility of another war. Aguiyi Ironsi wherein Madiebo in the presence of Mobolaji Johnson (then Governor of Lagos State) warned Ironsi of an impending coup against him. He plotted the successful offensive to clear Ikot Ekpene of Nigerian Forces. The coup eventually took place in July, 1966. During a stopover of several days in Lisbon, she heard that Biafra had surrendered. The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel. When Nigeria declared war on Biafra, some soldiers visited my house while I was away, thinking I was a Biafra informant, he told CNN. Former Nigerian Army Officer and Chief of Staff of the defunct Biafran Army, Alexander Madiebo, is dead. Ojukwu who was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian Army then became the General of the Biafran army. Its inhabitants were mostlyIgbo, who led the independence movement due to economic, ethnic, cultural and religious tensions among the various peoples of Nigeria. [32] The new currency went public on 28 January 1968, and the Nigerian pound was not accepted as an exchange unit. A soldier in the ruins of the Onitsha market after it was gutted during fighting in the city on July 16, 1968. "I think we would have done better if we had handled it with a little bit more intelligence," said Mr Ago. First, his troops carried out series of diversionary, confidence operations to capture ammunition from Nigerian forces and draw its troops out of Ikot Ekpene for a final onslaught. [8] Federal projects in Biafra were also greatly reduced compared to other parts of Nigeria. In 1968, Swedish pilot Carl Gustaf von Rosen suggested the MiniCOIN project to General Ojukwu. Please help before it is too late. He was detained by Ojukwu until the end of the war following the fall of Uyo in 1968. In September1969, Biafra acquired four ex-FrenchNorth American T-6 Texans (T-6G), which were flown to Biafra the following month, with another aircraft lost on the ferry flight. This coup resulted in General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, an Igbo and head of the Nigerian Army, taking power as President, becoming the first military head of state in Nigeria. The countrys northeast bordered theBenue Hillsand mountains that lead to Cameroon. The Nigerians who were pursuing us were trained soldiers We were drafted into the war, given two days' training. In February 1956, he joined the Officer Cadet Training at R.O.S.T.S., Teshie, Accra, Ghana till September 1956. Protests were held around the world and Bruce Mayrock, a student at Columbia University, set himself on fire at the United Nations headquarters in New York to protest the war in Biafra. This number grew as the war progressed, ultimately reaching 30,000. When the university was reopened a few months after the war ended, Mr Ago returned to UNN, eventually graduating with a degree in plant and soil science. He was behind the setting up of four universities of science and technology in different regions of Nigeria and after retirement he published Scientific and Technological Innovations in Biafra, a book he hoped would inspire young Nigerians. Two Fouga Magister and several Gloster Meteor were bought but never arrived to Biafra, being abandoned on foreign African airbases. Refugees flee the fighting in July 1968. But tragedy struck when Nigerian combatants launched an airstrike. The point of no return was reached in January 1966, when, after the collapse of order in the west following the fraudulent election of October 1965, a group of army officers attempted to overthrow the federal government, and Balewa and two of the regional premiers were murdered. Along with numerous commands, in a letter sent to him by Odumegwu Ojukwu, Kalu was made an officer of the Biafran fourteenth division with strict orders. She lost three children in the war. Weapons and equipment used by Army and militias. This number grew as the war progressed, ultimately reaching 30,000. He attempts to explain dispassionately why army officers toppled the civil government in the cause of stability, and the considerable civilian support they received; and the ensuing riots and counter-coup, in the name of reunification, which led to a civil war claiming some . As a young officer, he commanded the Biafran 54 Brigade stationed at Onitsha. July 31: France voices support for Ojukwu. In 1968, Swedish pilot Carl Gustaf von Rosen suggested the MiniCOIN project to General Ojukwu. In the letter Ojukwu states: "Your role in the Port Harcourt disaster is still fresh in the minds of people. People search the rubble following a bombing raid in Owerri in 1969. . "I think now that Ojukwu thought he was Jesus Christ. The few trained officers had to . A young officer orders an attack during the Biafra conflict in Nigeria in 1969. He has since been released and has been rearrested and released more than five times. They have three children, Andrew, Yvette and Chukwuma who are all married with children. [3] A special guerrilla unit, the Biafran Organization of Freedom Fighters, was established: designed to emulate the Viet Cong, they targeted Nigerian supply lines, forcing them to shift resources to internal security efforts. [41], Biafra also had a small improvised navy, but it never gained the success that their air force did. After returning to Nigeria, the federal government reneged on the agreement and unilaterally declared the creation of several new states including some that gerrymandered the Igbos in Biafra. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Evelyn Okororie had just returned home from the market in Nigerias Midwest region, when neighbors informed her that an airstrike had killed her mother, her niece and three of her children. The war ended 50 years ago on 15th January 1970 when Ojukwu fled the country. Ojukwu himself remained in exile for 13 years. New Nigerian newspaper page, 7January 1970. [15], Events leading to war Col. (later Gen.) Odumegwu Ojukwu, agreed to meet the others on neutral ground at Aburi, Ghana. Corrections? Aba falls on September 1 and Okigwe freed on . Adizua also got his old job back at NEPA and was paid his full salary for the years he was absent during the war. Powered & Managed by Portia Web Solution. I was bringing salt to Oguta, she recalled, and selling weed.. [7] It was purported that at the start of the civil war, Igbos withdrew their funds from Nigerian banks and converted it to the Biafran currency. [44], In 2010, researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Nigeria at Nsukka showed that Igbos born in Biafra during the years of the famine were of higher risk of suffering from obesity, hypertension and impaired glucose metabolism compared to controls born a short period after the famine had ended in the early 1970s. However, it is a period Okororie says she can never forget. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. An early institution created by the Biafran government was the Bank of Biafra, accomplished under Decree No. The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War or the Nigerian-Biafran War, broke out between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the secessionist state of Biafra from July 6 1967 to January 15 1970. Owerri is now captured. [9], Biafra had a small improvised navy, but it never gained the success of the air force. In September 1966,approximately 30,000 Igbo were killed in the north, and some Northerners were killed in backlashes in eastern cities. Nigerian Civil War, also called Nigerian-Biafran War, warbetweenNigerias federal government and the secessionist stateBiafrathat lasted from 1967 to 1970. She sold her items to both residents and Biafran soldiers. During an enemy counter attack at Umuabayi, our troops destroyed a Saladine and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC). [2] No official support for the Biafran Army came from any other nation, although arms were clandestinely acquired. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. You must clear the enemy from Obinze in 24 hours or submit your resignation from the army.". [51]Since August1999, protests have erupted in cities across Nigerias south-east. . Its coast was on theGulf of Guineaof theSouth Atlantic Oceanin the south. However, he had gone to help out at the Nsukka Sector when war broke out at Calabar. Biafran Air Force commanders were Chude Sokey and later Godwin Ezeilo,[10] who had trained with the Royal Canadian Air Force. In the latter stages, a Southern FMG offensive managed to break through the fierce resistance.[23]. The military intervention worsened the political situation, as the army itself split along ethnic lines, its officers clashed over power, and the instigators and leaders of the January coup were accused of favouring Igbo domination. What God wills is what happens.. Ojukwu flees his enclave. Photographs of the military Obasanjo, Jallo, Bissalo, Gowon. . During Nigeria's civil war, he was a young officer in the Biafran army. Increasing cries of marginalisation have led in recent years to the emergence of Igbo groups agitating once again for secession, particularly the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), formed by UK-based British-Nigerian Nnamdi Kanu.