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Unraveling The Nigerian Civil War: Understanding Its Causes And Unfolding (1967-1970)
Unraveling The Nigerian Civil War: Understanding Tts Causes And Unfolding (1967-1970)....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Written By Oshiobugie Omo-Ikirodah
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War or the Nigerian-Biafran War, erupted from July 6, 1967, to January 15, 1970, as a conflict between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the secessionist state of Biafra. CONTINUE READING
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The primary reason for Nigeria going to war was to counter the secessionist movement of the Eastern Region, known as Biafra, which sought to break away from the Republic of Nigeria. The Igbo people in the Eastern Region felt marginalized under the Hausa-Fulani-dominated federal government and believed that secession was their only recourse. The war spanned three years and resulted in a staggering death toll of over one million people, including children.
Several factors contributed to the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War:
- The first military coup on January 15, 1966, led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, was perceived as an Igbo coup by the Northerners. Prominent Northern leaders, such as Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Premier Ahmadu Bello, were killed, while some Igbo leaders were spared. The installation of General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, an Igbo officer, as the Head of State further fueled Northern resentment and a desire for retaliation.
- The counter-coup of 1966 was the second coup in Nigeria. On July 29, 1966, Northern military officers led by Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed staged a coup in response to the killings of Northern politicians and officers during the January 15 coup. This counter-coup brought General Yakubu Gowon, a Northerner, to power, and the North successfully regained control. CONTINUE READING
- The third immediate cause of the Nigerian civil war was the massacre of Igbos living in Northern Nigeria. Following the first and second coups, tensions escalated among Igbos in the North. This culminated in pogroms targeting Igbos between June and October 1966, resulting in the estimated deaths of 8,000 to 30,000 Igbos, half of whom were children. More than a million Igbos fled to the Eastern Region.
- In May 1967, the Federal Military Government of Yakubu Gowon restructured Nigeria’s four regions into twelve states, a move seen by the Eastern Region under Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Ojukwu as a provocation. On May 30, 1967, Ojukwu declared the existence and independence of the Republic of Biafra.
The outbreak of the war saw the Nigerian federal troops march into Biafra with two divisions. Division 1, led by Col. Shuwa, operated through the north of Biafra, while the second Division advanced on Nsukka and captured it on July 14, 1966. In retaliation, the Biafran army attacked the mid-western region of Nigeria, capturing it after encountering minimal resistance.
Gowon, angered by the Biafran capture of the mid-west, ordered Col. Muhammad Murtala to form another division (Division 2) to drive the Biafran army out of the mid-west and subsequently attack Biafra. The Nigerian army recaptured the mid-west region on September 20. Enugu became the capital of the Republic of Biafra, which later shifted to Aba, Umuahia, and Owerri successively as Federal troops advanced.
Within a year, the Federal Military Government captured Port Harcourt and other coastal oil facilities, effectively blockading routes for food supplies into Biafra. This led to widespread starvation and the deaths of over two million
the Federal Military Government (FMG) launched a comprehensive campaign targeting Biafrans through air, land, and sea, leaving them increasingly vulnerable. By the end of 1969, it became evident that the war would soon come to an end.
On January 7, 1970, the FMG initiated its final operation, named “Operation Tail-Wind.” This operation was carried out by the 3rd Marine Commando Division with support from the 1st and 2nd Infantry Divisions. As part of this offensive, Owerri was captured on January 9, followed by the fall of Uli on January 11.
Aware of the deteriorating situation, the self-proclaimed head of state of Biafra, Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, fled the Republic with his family on January 8, 1970. Philip Effiong, Ojukwu’s deputy who assumed leadership of Biafra’s administration, later surrendered to the Federal Government on January 14, 1970, effectively bringing an end to the Nigerian civil war.
The surrender was formalized through the signing of the surrender document by Philip Effiong in Lagos on January 15, 1970. With this act, the Nigerian civil war officially concluded. In the aftermath of the war, General Yakubu Gowon, the head of the FMG, expressed a sentiment of reconciliation and a new beginning for the nation. He emphasized the need to honor those who sacrificed their lives and called for the building of a just, prosperous, and industrious nation.
Source: Bushradiogist
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