The Nigerian Civil War, July 6, 1967 – January 13, 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed republic of Biafra. The war became notorious for the starvation in some of the besieged war-bound regions, and the consequent claims of genocide made by the largely Igbo people of those regions. July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view. ... National motto: Peace, Unity, Freedom Official language Igbo, English Capital Enugu Largest city Port Harcourt Head of State Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Chief of General Staff (VP) Philip Effiong Area ?- Total ?- % water Population;- Total 13,500,000 (1967) Currency Biafran pound (BIAP) Created May 30, 1967 Dissolved January 15, 1970 National... A famine is a phenomenon in which a large percentage of the population of a region or country are so undernourished that death by starvation becomes increasingly common. ... Genocide is defined by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG) article 2 as any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such: Killing members of the group; Causing... The Igbo sometimes (especially formerly) referred to as Ibo are one of the largest single ethnicities in Africa. ...

Military Coup

The claims of fraud led to a military coup on January 15, 1966 by left-leaning junior Army officers mostly majors and captains. This coup led to the accession of General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi , the head of the Nigerian Army, as President, the first military head of state of Nigeria. The coup benefited mostly the Igbos because most of the coup plotters were Igbos and Ironsi, an Igbo, was thought to have promoted many Igbos in the Army at the expense of Yoruba and Hausa officers. On the 29th of July 1966, the Northerners executed a counter-coup. This coup was led by Lt. Col. Murtala Muhammed. It placed Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon into power. Ethnic tensions due to the coup and counter-coup increased and led to the large-scale massacres of Christian Igbos living in the Muslim north. JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi Johnson Thomas Umananke Aguiyi-Ironsi (1924 - 1966) was a Nigerian Igbo political figure. ... Categories: People stubs | Africa-related stubs | Nigerian heads of state ... Yakubu Gowon General Yakubu Jack Dan-Yumma Gowon (born October 19, 1934) was the head of state (Head of the Federal Military Government) of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975. ...

The discovery of large quantities of oil in the delta of the Niger river, a sprawling network of rivers and swamps that was the southern-most tip of the Country hedged between the South eastern and South western regions , had led to the prospect of the southeast annexing this region to become self-sufficient and increasingly prosperous. However the exclusion of easterners from power made many fear that the oil revenues would be used to benefit areas in the north and west rather than their own.

All these factors led to a growing pressure in the Igbo east for secession.

Breakaway

The military governor of the Igbo-dominated southeast, Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, citing the northern massacres and electoral fraud, proclaimed with southern parliament the secession of the south-eastern region from Nigeria as the Republic of Biafra, an independent nation on May 30, 1967 (May 29 in some sources). Although there was much sympathy in Europe and elsewhere, only four countries recognized the new republic. It was also said that one of the reasons for Ojukwu declaring the new Republic of Biafra is that he did not recognize Gowon as head of state because Gowon was not the next officer to Ironsi in the military hierarchy.Several peace accords especially the one held at Aburi,Ghana collapsed and the shooting war followed. Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ikemba Nnewi (born November 4, 1933) was the leader of the secessionist state of Biafra in Nigeria (1967–1970), during the Nigerian Civil War. ... National motto: Peace, Unity, Freedom Official language Igbo, English Capital Enugu Largest city Port Harcourt Head of State Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Chief of General Staff (VP) Philip Effiong Area ?- Total ?- % water Population;- Total 13,500,000 (1967) Currency Biafran pound (BIAP) Created May 30, 1967 Dissolved January 15, 1970 National... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Aburi Botanical Gardens Aburi is a town north east of Accra, the capital city of Ghana. ...

Civil War

The Nigerian government immediately launched a "police action", using the armed forces to retake the secessionist territory. The war begain on July 6, 1967 when Nigerian Federal troops advanced in a two columns into Biafra. The right-hand Nigerian column advanced on the town of Nsukka which fell on July 14, while the left-hand column made for Gakem, which was captured on July 12. But the Biafrans responded with an offensive of their own when on July 9, the Biafran forces moved west into the Mid-Western Nigerian state across the Niger river, passing through Benin City to reach Ore just over the state boundary on August 21, just 130 miles east of the Nigerian capital of Lagos. Although Benin City was retaken by the Nigerians on September 22, the Biafrans succeeded in their primary objective to tie down as many Nigerian Federal troops as they could. Four battalions of the Nigerian 2nd Infantry Division were needed to drive the Biafrans back and eliminate their territorial gains made during the offensive. But the Nigerians were repulsed three times as they tried to cross the Niger during October. July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 172 days remaining. ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ...

The Nigerians then settled down to a period of a siege by blockading Biafra. Amphibious landings by the Nigerian navy led to the capture of two southern towns of Bonny, south of Port Harcourt on July 26, and the port of Calabar on October 18 by elements of the Nigerian 3rd Marine Commando Division. In the north, Biafran forces were pushed back into their core territory, and the capital of Biafra, the city of Enugu, was captured by Nigerian forces belonging to the 1st Infantry Division on October 4. The Biafrans continued to resist in their core Igbo heartlands, which they were soon surrounded by Nigerian forces. July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... October 18 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in Leap years). ... Location of Enugu in Nigeria Enugu is the capital city of Enugu State, Nigeria. ... October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

However reorganisation of the Nigerian forces, the reluctance of the Biafran army to attack again, and the effects of a naval, land and air blockade of Biafra led to a change in the balance of forces. The Swedish eccentric, Count Carl Gustav von Rosen also led a miniCOIN brigade in action, his BAF (Biafran Air Force) consisted of three Swedes and two Biafrans. Count Carl Gustav von Rosen (1909–Swedish pioneer aviator, son of the explorer Erik von Rosen (1879–1948) and nephew of Karin Göring, wife of Hermann Göring. ...

Stalemate

From 1968 onward, the war fell into a lengthy stalemate, with Nigerian forces unable to make significant advances into the remaining areas of Biafran control. But another Nigerian offensive from April to June 1968 begain to close the ring around the Biafrans with further advances on the two northern fronts and the capture of Port Harcourt on May 19, 1968. The blockade of the surrounded Biafrans led to a humanitarian disaster when it emerged that there was widespread civilian hunger and starvation in the besieged Igbo areas. An overused tactic of the Nigerian forces had been the sabotage of farmland, and this was now beginning to affect the Biafran population. Images of starving Biafran children went around the world. The Biafran government claimed that Nigeria was using hunger and genocide to win the war, and sought aid from the outside world. 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... May 19 is the 139th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (140th in leap years). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

Many volunteer bodies organised blockade-breaking relief flights into Biafra, carrying food, medicines, and sometimes (according to some claims) weapons. Nigeria also claimed that the Biafran government was hiring foreign mercenaries to extend the war. A mercenary is a soldier who fights, or engages in warfare primarily for private gain, usually with little regard for ideological, national or political considerations. ...

Throughout 1968 and into 1969, logistical difficulties kept the Nigerian federal forces from finishing off the war that was effectively in their favour. Despite the foreign aid and the political harm done to Nigeria, the area controlled by the Biafran government grew smaller and smaller. But in June 1969, the Biafran's launched a desperate offensive against the Nigerians in their attempts to keep the Nigerians off-balance and prolong life for their seperatist nation as long as posible. They were supported by foreign mercenary pilots continuing to fly in food, medical supplies and weapons. Most notable of the mercenaries was that being of Swedish Count Carl Gustav von Rosen whom led five MFI.9B Minicon small pison-engined aircraft, armed with rocket pods and machine guns, to attack Nigerian military airfields in Port Harcourt, Enugu, Benin City and Ughelli which destroyed or damaged a number of Nigerian Air Force jets used to attack relief flights including a few Mig-17's and three out of Nigeria's six Ilyushin Il-28 bombers that were used to bomb Biafria villages and farms on a daily basis. Although taken off-guard by the surprise Biafrian offensive, the Nigerians soon recovered and held off the Biafrians long enough for the offensive to stall out. The Biafrian air attacks did disrupt the Nigerian Air Force from their combat operations, but only for a few months. 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Look up June in Wiktionary, the free dictionary June is the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with a length of 30 days The month is named after the Roman goddess Juno, wife of Jupiter and equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera. ... A mercenary is a soldier who fights, or engages in warfare primarily for private gain, usually with little regard for ideological, national or political considerations. ... Count Carl Gustav von Rosen (1909–Swedish pioneer aviator, son of the explorer Erik von Rosen (1879–1948) and nephew of Karin Göring, wife of Hermann Göring. ... MiG-17 at the Central Texas Airshow, USA, May 2003. ... The Ilyushin Il-28 is a jet bomber aircraft that was originally manufactured for the Soviet Air Force and was the USSRs first such aircraft to enter large-scale production. ...

The Nigerian federal forces launched their final offensive against the Biafrans on December 23, 1969 with a major thrust by the 3rd Marine Commando Division which succeeded in spliting the Biafran enclave into two by the end of the year. The final Nigerian offensive, named "Operation Tail-Wind", was launched on January 7, 1970 with the 3rd Marine Commando Division attacking, and supported by the 1st Infantry division to the north and the 2nd Infantry division to the south. The Biafran town of Owerri fell on January 9, and Uli fell on January 11. The war finally ended with the final surrender of the Biafran forces in the last Biafra-held town of Amichi on January 13, 1970. Only a few days earlier, Ojukwu fled into exile by flying by plane to the republic of Côte d'Ivoire, leaving his deputy Philip Effiong to handle the details of the surrender. To the surprise of many in the outside world, most of the threatened reprisals and massacres did not occur, and genuine attempts were made at reconciliation. December 23 is the 357th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (358th in leap years). ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... January 7 is the seventh day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Owerri is a city in southeastern Nigeria. ... January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 11 is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Philip Effiong, also spelled Efiong, was the first Vice President and the second and last President of the now defunct Republic of Biafra, during the 30-month Nigeria-Biafra civil war, 1967-70. ...

Aftermath

More than a dozen coups have occured in Nigeria since 1960. The war cost Nigeria a great deal in terms of lives, money and its image in the world. It has been estimated that up to two million people may have died due to the conflict. Most from hunger and disease. Reconstruction, helped by the oil money, was swift; however, the old ethnic and religious tensions often remained a constant feature of Nigerian politics. Military Government continued in power in Nigeria for many years, and people in the oil-producing areas claimed they were being denied a fair share of oil revenues. Laws were passed mandating that political parties could not be ethnically or tribally based; however, it has been hard to make this work in practice.

On Monday 29 May 2000, The Guardian of Lagos reported that President Olusegun Obasanjo commuted to retirement the dismissal of all military persons who fought for the breakaway state of Biafra during the Nigerian civil war. In a national broadcast, he said that the decision was based on the principle that "justice must at all times be tempered with mercy." It is also thought that Obasanjo was trying to placate the Igbo. During the previous year's election, he had received massive electoral support from the Igbo region. http://www.cidi.org/humanitarian/irin/wafrica/00a/0021.html] May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Olusegun Mathew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo (born March 5, 1937) has been the President of Nigeria since 1999. ...

References

• Shadows : Airlift and Airwar in Biafra and Nigeria 1967-1970, by Michael I. Draper (ISBN 1902109635)
• On Wings of War: My Life as a Pilot Adventurer, by Jan Zumbach
• Warfare of the 20th Century, by Christopher Chant; Chartwell Books, 1988.

Jan Zumbach. ...

External links

• Short history and assessment of the MFI-9B "MiniCOIN" in Biafran air force service
• Nicknames, Slogans, Local and Operational Names Associated with the Nigerian Civil War