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Thursday, November 12, 2015

The Biafran Story -What Happened?

Please try as much as you can to tell the story and avoid any form of internet altercation here.
Please respect yourself oooh...


What happened?Do we have people reading this Blog who can tell us the original story?





''Hello, Stella, I just want to beg that people who were born during the biafra war or have stories tell us what happened. I would really like to hear what happened because that is the only way we ‎can actually make informed opinions. Also we did not learn Biafra in school, and a lot of people just know that a war happened. 

Remember diversity is the best! 

Let's have diverse stories from different part. 

‎                                      Love from Canada 

                                         Folusho.


213 comments:

  1. Where I wan start from and where I go end am. I will send u a full story. Let me take my time I research, survey and interview. My mom was born whe. The war ended. Dad was a boy during the war. I will ask granny during Xmas.

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    Replies
    1. your mum was born in 1970,she is 45 and you said you are 26

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    2. Aguiyi first killed ummm....ahmadu bello or musa Y.A? who did he kill? Then he was captured in ibadan n killed by theo danjuma...this all stemmed from a bickering or failed coup?....something led to first killing, whether it was a failed coup or d bickering between gowon n ojukwu?

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    3. Aguiyi first killed ummm....ahmadu bello or musa Y.A? who did he kill? Then he was captured in ibadan n killed by theo danjuma...this all stemmed from a bickering or failed coup?....something led to first killing, whether it was a failed coup or d bickering between gowon n ojukwu?

      Delete
    4. Blackberry stop saying what u dont know
      .I must comment by force syndrom..Keep showing ur stupidity.

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    5. Silly girl....am older than your mum yet u come here and rap rubbish to your seniors....no respect.....anyway na internet cause am

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    6. Nwa amaka u need to relax

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    7. In summary, the war was a conspiracy between the Britain, Russia, and Arabs against the Igbos. Igbos didn't lose the war to poorly trained and uncoordinated Nigeria army. They lost the war to the world powers who were interested only in the Niger Delta oil. All the other tribes in Nigeria connived together also to fight the Igbos. If the war is replicated today, Igbos would defeat whoever fights on the Nigerian side, be it Russia, UK or whoever.

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    8. Go and read THERE WAS A COUNTRY by chinua achebe. His last book.
      Thank me later!

      Krix via iPhone 6 gold

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    9. Please, just get Chinua Achebe's THERE WAS A COUNTRY.

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    10. I don't want war,biafra or not,war is bad. I'm a yoruba girl, I have lot of ibo friends, even in yaba market,some of this ibo guys are my customer and call me when they have new stuffs even when I can't pay them,they tell me you be my correct girl na,oya take am when you get money con pay.. Abeg,i no want war! Long live Nigeria!

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    11. Anon 21:30, lol lol lol lol lol lol look I'll lol!!!

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    12. my dad experienced the war.. mehn the stories he told us was devastating.. i pray it doesn't happen again...

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  2. Make I ask my papa I dey come.

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    Replies
    1. Benjamin Adekunle! The black scorpion. Now resting in hell.
      Adekunle was a key champion of the food blockade to Biafra. In a wartime interview he had with Randolph Baumann of Stern Magazine in Igweocha (published on August 18, 1968), he stated:[3]

      ADEKUNLE: In the section of the front that I rule—and that is the whole south front from Lagos to the border of Kamerun—I do not want to see the Red Cross, Caritas Aid, World Church delegation, Pope, Missionary, or UN delegation.

      STERN: Does that mean that the many thousands of tons of food that are stored in Lagos will never get to the refugee camps in your section of the country?

      ADEKUNLE: That’s exactly what I am saying.

      STERN: But you said yourself that most of the refugees in the part you captured are not Ibos.

      ADEKUNLE: I don't care if they are ibos or not. I want to block all foreign aids from a getting to that part of the country as long as this whole people have not given up yet.

      STERN: Do you sometimes feel sympathy for the Ibo children?

      ADEKUNLE: I have learned a word from the British, which is “sorry”! That’s how I want to respond to your question. I want to win this war for the sake of Nigeria crude oil. Therefore I have to kill the enemies to win this war. Sorry! The End.

      Adekunle's son wrote an account of his father's military career in a biography titled The Nigeria-Biafra Letters: A Soldier's Story.

      He died on 13 September 2014 and was buried in the Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi, Lagos[4].
      Lols, volts and ikoyi gardens. What a waste of space.
      Thank you stella for giving me an opportunity to sought for history. I will give any yoruba person that comes in on my call days at the A/E fatal injection. That's every three days for the next 1yr. Depending on how much information I get. Something bad in me just sprung up.

      Delete
    2. I'm always late on important posts these days.. *sigh *
      Now, a few narrations down below are quite close to the truth. Some plain balderdash...
      I no get energy now, my epistle will be done another day. However, permit me to list a few excerpts from the war.
      Did you know...

      -that during the pogrom in the north, apart from the mass killings, some igbos who managed to escape the hausa men were intercepted on their way back to the east and murdered in their numbers. This happened in the trains carrying them. Then the hostler or train driver would be ordered to ride the mutilated bodies home. On arrival, the jubilant families of the passengers would to their dismay, find their loved ones all dead in the bloodied train.

      -that one quiet night in the Nigerian Army barracks in lagos, soldiers started jumping down from their windows. Especially, those living in higher floors. Some igbo soldiers who didn't escape were killed in their flats. Families included.
      -it was a thing of joy to return home safely when the war drums were beating at the early stage. Those who didn't cross over were left to their fate. That's why you see some igbo children born in the west around that period carrying tribal marks on order to escape death.

      -Caritas and other humanitarian organisations sent food, hospital supplies and also smuggled arms into the biafran region in the dead of the night. With no lights on the runway to avoid being shot down by the Nigerian Army. This resulted to lots of crashes along the airport. Many humanitarian pilots who came to the rescue of the biafran plight, lost their lives in this war.
      -many biafran children were taken to other African counties,especially Gabon (can't remember exactly at the moment) for safety. They were tagged before leaving and returned to their respective families when the war ended.

      -that there were heavy shellings on the biafran people. The use of mortar bombs, armoured tanks, and automatic rifles were also used.
      -majority of the guns(the g3 rifle) used by the Nigerian Army are some of the guns being used by the customs in recent times.

      -biafran men or boys couldn't move freely for fear of conscription.
      -the enugu prisons was used to train the first set of biafra soldiers and they were duly commissioned. (my dad was trained here) this was done to conceal the preparations of the fourth coming war. All other conscripts were given little or no training.
      -that food was passed to the biafra soldiers in sacks by passing through the trenches dug by soldiers. This did was mainly bread and came once a day. Some days it didn't come at all. Days when the war front was toughest.
      ...

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    3. -that many children died from hunger and a disease caked kwashiorkor.
      -women queued up to receive their children or spouse's salary. You were allowed such benefits if your loved one signed you up for it. Some chose to give their entire wage, some chose to give part and retain part.

      -there were internally displaced people in the biafra region. People fled their villages to neighboring ones. Igbo people I'm sure you have heard of the word 'mbala'.
      -after the war ended the Nigerian soldiers looted people's properties in the towns and cities like enugu. Houses were burnt for fun. People returned to empty houses. Those who were lucky enough to meet one.

      -that £20 was given to all igbo people after the war whether you had millions or hundreds.
      There were no jobs to do after the war. Everything was destroyed. The only choice was to go back to school.

      -that some young biafra women who saw no hope with their male counterparts ran to the camps of the Nigerian soldiers to get food. Some ended up marrying them. One again, igbo people you must have heard the saying " agaracha must come back. "
      -that there were mass killings by the Nigerian army at delta.

      And of course we all know a whole lot of people lost their lives in this war. The casualty is more on the side of the igbos because of the geographical location of the battlefield.

      There's a whole lot to talk about. But in essence, war is war and must be avoided at all costs. These events listed up there are not one you would wish your enemy. If you still didn't get the picture, go on the Internet and look up Syria, Afghanistan, Crimea, donestk, places that have experienced unrest and other war torn places. What do you see?

      Before agitating for biafra, think twice. No one wants to lose a loved one. The ones we lost in the previous generation are enough.
      So I ended writing an epistle... I don tire biko.

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    4. Why did you go Anon?
      So what's the difference between you and the person you just profiled?

      Lots of twisted peeps on this blog.

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    5. And I was about saying thank u for this but your last paragraph spoiled the whole thing. Be ready to loose your license. So innocent people will suffer the cause of someone else's wickedness. And you get on your knees daily asking God for forgiveness and that He shouldn't let you suffer for the sons of your fathers.

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    6. You can read chinua Achebe's "There was a country" everything you need to knw about Biafra is in there.

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    7. Anon can I beg you in the name of God not to do that?

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    8. u should be ashamed of urself! wicked soul! so if u gv any yoruba person fatal injection does tht make u better than d killers? U should burn ur certificate cos u r a disgrace to d medical community! GOD will surely punish u if u ever harm anyone purposely, better pray none of ur relatives die by fatal injection!! if this was a better country,u would hv been fished out anonymous or not and prosecuted

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    9. Anon 00:31, u filthy coward! Reveal yourself! Retard! Something bad didn't spring up, you've always been sick. Coward.

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    10. So you are one of the wicked doctors we,have in this country don't worry God Himself will expose and disgrace u in Jesus name amen.

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  3. Hmmm.... I'm not at home now, my dad would have narrated the story I woulda type in here....

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  4. Hmmmmmm. True! We only learned about the war, we were never taught about biafra.

    Your comment will be visible after approval.

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    1. Very briefly. From sources from both sides. Books and actual war veterans:

      It all started with the British. The divide and rule system. Favouring 1 tribe above the other. The igbos were very influential in the civil service, whether as result of merit or a result of bias, The hausas were in the military.
      -the Hausas were, as you know very loyal to their leaders, the Saudana of Sokoto, the Emirs and influential Hausa politicians.

      -they were pre-independent uproars. Kano riots in which many southerners were killed.

      -Independence was to be 1957 but the northern region were not in support of independence.

      -Finally, at independence, all the region's agreed to gain independence as one but be governed as regional governments with Lagos being the FCT(that is why many tribes are in Lagos today, it was the seat of administration)

      -So, take into cognisance the already mounting distrust among the regions, and also the separate, almost autonomous govt in the regions.

      -the elections: 1960 and 1963 were hugely rigged. The politicians in the 1st republic were corrupt. They embezzled money and decieved the then ignorant citizens.

      -Coups were in vogue then. In most African countries, the military were taking over.

      -1966, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu( he was called Kaduna because he grew up in the north, had northern roots and was an igbo man mostly by name) and a set of predominantly igbo soldiers(they weren't only igbos: hausa's and yorubas participated) planned a coup.

      -the plan was that Nzeogwu and co would handle killing in the north, others would handle other regions, it was a well thought out plan. Nnamdi Azikiwe and other igbo elites were mapped out for death. Same as Akintola, Tafawa Balewa and co. The northern elites were killed, some eastern and western killed but the coup plotters ended up sparing the east and yoruba ones or were incompetent and let them escape.(1st mistake). Zik escaped, Akintola escaped.

      - before the coup could succeed totally, the senior military officers destroyed the plot.

      -The military asked Aguyi Ironsi to take over as the most senior officer at the time. Aguiyi Ironsi was not a part of the coup. Ironsi was disciplined but he wasn't a very smart politician. Ironsi saw unitary system as the only way. He gave Northerners a great part in his government(e.g theophilus Danjuma) and he put the coup plotters in prison(life imprisonment) for mutiny.

      -The north never forgave what they felt was an igbo coup. After 6 months, the Northerners betrayed Iroonsi and he was murdered. The next in line to take over was Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the bastard son of Louis Ojukwu. But because of the politics, Gowon who was his junior in same rank took over.

      I'll continue...

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    2. Perhaps, you can say Ojukwu was disgruntled or just hot headed.

      But at that time, the riots started. Igbos in the north were killed in thousands, massacred in their sleep. The northerners destroyed their businesses, killed their children. The mosques then would preach, they would take their daggers, carve igbo men people from house to house. (if you doubt this, then it's funny, cos anyone who witnessed the 2011 election riot and any other riot in the north can easily imagine what 1966 would have been like).
      The igbos didn't actually want to declare their own republic. Zik always preached one Nigeria, but what we're they to do with the violence and blood shed that forced them out of other regions?
      They felt then that, "since you don't want us, let us form our own region and rule ourselves"

      -the major cause of the war was GOWON's govt that stood by and watched it all. There was no attempt by the govt to stop the killing or punish the pepetrators. Lagos was a hot bed for igbo killing, people were hounded by the army, killed right in the FCT. Most igbos couldn't sleep in their houses, some were betrayed, matched out at night and killed. Innocent civilians. Some in the airport, found and murdered. How were they to stay and watch this happen?

      -Ojukwu saw what was happening, mustered the igbos back home and declared a republic. The core igbos, the riverine igbos, the efik and ibibio all agreed. Louis Mbanefo was the chief judge, influential poets like Christopher Okigbo and co fell in the war that was to come. They printed their own currency and were looking for international recognition.

      -Ojukwu, a brave general but a bad/stubborn politician refused help from foreign entities. He knew their help was not going to be free but if he was wiser, he would have accepted it nonetheless. He was too idealistic, like people of that time.

      -Nigeria declared war on biafra to bring them back to the federation.

      -the war lasted 4 bloody years. In the beginning, the biafrans prevailed but due to superior machinery, better organisation and foreign help. Nigeria won. Both sides had casualties. Biafrans fought to the death. Used child soldiers. Every boy was made to fight.

      -before the war took off in full accord. The two sides went for peace talks in Aburi, Ghana. They had an agreement and they wanted to call a cease fire but on getting to Nigeria. Gowon changed his mind and the war continued.

      -Before the war, Awolowo was in prision for treason, plotting to topple the civilian government. He happened to be in a prison in the east. When the war started, Ojukwu released him and there was the agreement that he should muster his own people to seek cessation from Nigeria.

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    3. Awolowo, finding himself free instead, parleyed with Gowon and was given a ministerial position. Finance.
      He strategised against Biafra and used hunger as a tool to fight them to submission. They blocked any form of relief to the civilians. Many biafran children died from malnutrition, kwashiokor. Amidst the incessant shelling, bombings, bombardment.
      Many biafrans died in millions.

      -The war officially ended in 1970 when Biafra surrendered. But after the surrender, Murtala Mohammed, Adekunle and other commanders in charge of Delta(Aniocha, Ogwashiuku), still massacred thousands of civilians, raped women. They did very abominable things. They set fire to villages while women and children burnt in their houses, gathered civilians and opened fire on them. They killed over thousands of people. (something people in that region can't forget).

      -After the war, despite Gowon's words that there are no victor or vanquished. The igbos were never given their properties(in many regions), Awolowo froze all igbo accounts and gave all men who had money in the bank 20 pounds. Millionaire or not. Lagos State govt seized Ojukwu property in bonny Camp and almost half of Victoria island (d family was wealthy) but d supreme Court returned the property. Not to talk of the indigenization policy of Awolowo that crippled igbo economy(would have explained it but too long). This is also why the igbos have resentment for APC. The party has some historical affiliation with Action Group(Awolowo's party). After 1999 and resurgence of democracy, AD, ACN, APC.

      Both sides made their mistakes but the greatest mistake is sweeping things under the carpet, hoping that time will heal the wounds.
      There should have been real reconciliation and reintegration. But Nigeria being the tribalistic entity it has always been won't let things be. We condemn racism and genocide and all these things but we are worse here.
      Can't believe that people who have the same colour can't live without segregation but we condemn white people who disregard and segregate blacks.

      Sometimes, it's Lord Lugard's fault for forcing us all together but are we the only country with diversity? it's supposed to be all beautiful and colourful but we bicker from greed, nepotism and needless sentiments. We all have to change, if this country is to grow

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    4. Read this yorubas and see why Igbo people think you betrayed them

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    5. Bona, when they went for the peace talk, they took advantage of Gowon's ignorance by making him sign the so called conditions.
      On getting to Nigeria, the educated ones informed him of the terms and conditions of the agreement which led to the initial war.
      Ojukwu undeniably was a graduate of Oxford University. Gowon was a fucked up illiterate Army General. He went to get himself educated after vacating the seat of power.
      Even newspapers carried an image of him on a queue for food back then which was why they built a house for him.
      Please dont forget that part.

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    6. You are actually stupid and no I'm not igbo

      If from everything written here you still think only igbos fired the fired shot. A coup that was planned by yorubas and Igbo to take our nnamdi azikiwe and others but they failed and killed only a northerner

      Why they think it was only Igbo was because ironsi didn't kill those who perpetrated that act thinking it was because igbos were also involved. Mind you ironsi wasn't even part of the coup

      Please go and read. Reading helps a lot.

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    7. Please, Gowon released Awolowo and not Ojukwu which was why Awo served as the Finance Minister under Gowon's administration. He changed the currency which was the major reason why the war ended as Ojukwu couldnt not pay the merceneries anymore.
      If Ojukwu released Awo, he would never have supported the FG back then. Get your facts right.
      Besides, Ojukwu didnt imprison Awo. It was the FG that did. For treason.

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    8. Akintola was killed in the January 1966 coup. He did not escape get your facts right.

      I am surprised you left out how Adekunle Fajuyi laid down his life even when he was told to escape by the coupist that came to kill Ironsi in his residence

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    9. Bona,before the war....Gowon would be heard on the Radio during,before or after the massacres promising Igbo's that they were "Safe" This made Igbo's feel extremely cornered and unsafe.

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    10. Bonarpate, your account of what happened is somehow skewed... the facts are there, just that this generation hardly reads and seem not to be able to discern. Whoever is interested in what happened should read up on all the accounts of people who were actually involved. when you read from both sides, the truth is Obvious. Today some ignoramus are about to lead people to their end all in the name of a Biafra that can never be. Nonsense!

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    11. Sunshine the FG imprisoned awololo for treason in a prison in the eastern part. Ojukwu freed him so he will get the yorubas to align with them but he sided with gowon..


      Bonaparte said it all without sentiments or tribalism.. You on the other hand, is getting it wrong

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    12. Stupid and foolish sunshit!
      Read well!
      He didn't say ojukwu imprisoned Awo, he said FG imprisoned him for treason in the east. Goat!

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    13. The war made my great granma Sonless as her seven sons were forced into war, 3elder ones went and the next 3 went in search of the others and none came back, the last died from an airstrike. She lost her sons but professed that her 2daughters were worth more than ten sons cos they fought to hold her respect and properties she acquired as a gold merchant in Kano
      My late great grannies had houses in Kano and sold them just before they died few years ago but never repossessed their houses in PH acquired by lazy indigines. She regaled us how they kept alive with WIN the WAR SOUPs...concotions that were nutritious and filling. Please No More Wars BUt a Country that is fair and equity for all. The constitution should be amended. My family cuts across the major and minority tribes. We are trying not to buck under the tension but late grannies warned against these marriage mix unless naija was fixed so that there wont be betrayals but grannirs felt the marriage mix will strenghten the bonds. Lord have mercy

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    14. Sunshine

      Go and read there was a country by chinua achebe

      Also read emeka I can't remember the written but he isn't Nigerian

      Then read other books but please don't bother reading half a yellow sun because it explained nothing..

      Then come back and tell if this was sided or not.

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    15. Bonaparte the useless writer. Upon your copy and paste you chose to distort facts. As usual you will go anon to lend credence to your warped account. There was a country was Chinua Achebe's account. He said so himself. My parents also witnessed the war, they have their own account just like others who did. The truth today is not established because of so many cover ups and downplay of the characters involved.

      Please say no to WAR because the aftermath we still feel today.

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    16. The funny part of all this is: that we were all asked to say the story as we know it.

      You have your column to tell yours. Calling me ignorant or not won't change history or correct my mistakes, if any.
      I can't get all the facts right.
      I remember saying clearly that Awolowo was imprisoned earlier for his role in treason before anything Biafra came up. So, there's no haste to reply.

      -I didn't mention Fajuyi. It was an omission, not like it invalidates the story. Wole Soyinka also had Biafra sympathies. I didn't mention too. The evil of 'The Scorpion' Adekunle, I didn't mention. The evil of Biafra soldiers on the riverine Kalabari, I didn't mention. The betrayal of the Ogoni and Saro-Wiwa, I left out. I just said the basics.

      I don't think I can sum a war up in 3 paragraphs. Too many intrigues.

      Aguiyi Ironsi, as a matter of history wasn't tribalistic. Infact, he had little to do with the igbos(whether as smokescreen or truth). And yeah, he was brutally murdered just like the Saudana. They were all casualties. Only that Ironsi didn't bargain for power, was caught in the cross fire.

      I think from historical documents, even critics agree that Nzeogwu's coup wasn't a tribal coup. More like a misguided mistake by idealistic rascals. They plunged Nigeria into unending misery by that action but honestly, anyone who knows the North knows they had more than enough excuse to butcher the southerners then. It was happening even before the war and it still happens. Even before independence, they were about 3 riots which you could clearly discern the trend. And even if the coup was tribal, did that justify the mindless killing of tens of thousands of civilians? If you ask for my honest opinion, I think the resentment was deep seethed. It had always been there. The mood then was that igbos wanted to take over their land. It was being said in mosques even before the coup.

      About reading: even before 12/13, I had read and assimilated
      'Major Kaduna Nzeogwu' by Olusegun Obasanjo.
      Obasanjo was Nzeogwu's best friend. Obasanjo also fought against Nzeogwu and was a Nigerian soldier and commander. I had already read about Operation Tail Wind and The capture of Enugu. I've also spoken to people who were raped in the war. Those who fought on both sides. Out of curiosity.

      As for Awolowo, every unbiased historian, not clouded by sentiments could see him clearly for what he is. An unscrupulous crafty power hungry person. He had big dreams and was very pragmatic about fulfilling it, whoever it hurts. Read about his fall out with Akintola, read about his antics in his final days. My account has no mercy for those glorified or vilified. If I'm told to give an account of William The Conqueror and Harold Godwinson or between Richard III and Henry Tudor, or Henry VIII and the corrupt popes or Scientists vs the church or The Witches of Salem vs the puritans. I don't just choose the obvious good sides to support. I try to delve deep and see reasons from both angles. Even as a kid I used to listen to family members when they criticised my father to see if there is a figment of reason in what they say. Bias is not my style.

      Thus, this story

      This is what I made out of it. Pardon me if I forgot somethings or left out the other. Apart from being my prerogative to tell it as I can, I have so much on my mind.

      Delete
  5. Movie: Half of a yellow sun gives one an idea of the Biafran war. Grab a copy now!!

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    1. Read d book, then watched the movie..
      It doesnt..
      Just vividly explains d war...
      It doesnt answer the question "why"

      Delete
    2. A better book is there was once a country

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    3. Lol lies... ask urself why d igbos attacked first and carried out the 1st coup. Were their motives just? Or borne out of greed.

      Then ask urself if indeed they r granted biafra along with the whole south south, wld d leaders of biafra b open and fair to the minorities in their midst? What wld happen to the ogonis, ijaws, etc?

      The average igbo cannot stand to see a yoruba man as his equal how much less his president and u truly believe they wld step down for ogoniman to rule? Lolol

      The igbo hate every one including themselves. Imo vs abia etc I'm from agbor n I remember clearly how we taunted that we rnt real igbos. Now time to share land/oil they suddenly remember we r one biafra

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    4. C achibe's there was a country explains it more.

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    5. The war made my great granma Sonless as her seven sons were forced into war, 3elder ones went and the next 3 went in search of the others and none came back, the last died from an airstrike. She lost her sons but professed that her 2daughters were worth more than ten sons cos they fought to hold her respect and properties she acquired as a gold merchant in Kano
      My late great grannies had houses in Kano and sold them just before they died few years ago but never repossessed their houses in PH acquired by lazy indigines. She regaled us how they kept alive with WIN the WAR SOUPs...concotions that were nutritious and filling. Please No More Wars BUt a Country that is fair and equity for all. The constitution should be amended. My family cuts across the major and minority tribes. We are trying not to buck under the tension but late grannies warned against these marriage mix unless naija was fixed so that there wont be betrayals but grannirs felt the marriage mix will strenghten the bonds. Lord have mercy

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  6. We were thought in school. But explanations can never equal eye witness, if we can get an account from eye witness, it will be better.



    *Larry was here*

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    Replies
    1. The war made my great granma Sonless as her seven sons were forced into war, 3elder ones went and the next 3 went in search of the others and none came back, the last died from an airstrike. She lost her sons but professed that her 2daughters were worth more than ten sons cos they fought to hold her respect and properties she acquired as a gold merchant in Kano
      My late great grannies had houses in Kano and sold them just before they died few years ago but never repossessed their houses in PH acquired by lazy indigines. She regaled us how they kept alive with WIN the WAR SOUPs...concotions that were nutritious and filling. Please No More Wars BUt a Country that is fair and equity for all. The constitution should be amended. My family cuts across the major and minority tribes. We are trying not to buck under the tension but late grannies warned against these marriage mix unless naija was fixed so that there wont be betrayals but grannirs felt the marriage mix will strenghten the bonds. Lord have mercy

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. My granddad fought in the war. He later renamed himself,Aghadinjo.
      He lost his bros n parents. He later reunited with his cousin who everyone thought was,dead.

      Delete
  8. I don't want biafra!
    I don't want war!
    Let's manage nigeria!
    The devil we know is better than the angel.........

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    Replies
    1. Mechie gi onu there

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    2. The war made my great granma Sonless as her seven sons were forced into war, 3elder ones went and the next 3 went in search of the others and none came back, the last died from an airstrike. She lost her sons but professed that her 2daughters were worth more than ten sons cos they fought to hold her respect and properties she acquired as a gold merchant in Kano
      My late great grannies had houses in Kano and sold them just before they died few years ago but never repossessed their houses in PH acquired by lazy indigines. She regaled us how they kept alive with WIN the WAR SOUPs...concotions that were nutritious and filling. Please No More Wars BUt a Country that is fair and equity for all. The constitution should be amended. My family cuts across the major and minority tribes. We are trying not to buck under the tension but late grannies warned against these marriage mix unless naija was fixed so that there wont be betrayals but grannirs felt the marriage mix will strenghten the bonds. Lord have mercy

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    3. I always marvel at people who make such statement about knowing devils but not angels...na wa o. *God real talk am say there are men who choose devil and his ways but reject God.

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  9. My dad all he said to me was that its wasnt funny.. My grand mother also said it wasnt funny. I guess they dnt want to tell us but only advised us to make peace where ever we go and avoid anything that can lead to war.

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    1. The war made my great granma Sonless as her seven sons were forced into war, 3elder ones went and the next 3 went in search of the others and none came back, the last died from an airstrike. She lost her sons but professed that her 2daughters were worth more than ten sons cos they fought to hold her respect and properties she acquired as a gold merchant in Kano
      My late great grannies had houses in Kano and sold them just before they died few years ago but never repossessed their houses in PH acquired by lazy indigines. She regaled us how they kept alive with WIN the WAR SOUPs...concotions that were nutritious and filling. Please No More Wars BUt a Country that is fair and equity for all. The constitution should be amended. My family cuts across the major and minority tribes. We are trying not to buck under the tension but late grannies warned against these marriage mix unless naija was fixed so that there wont be betrayals but grannirs felt the marriage mix will strenghten the bonds. Lord have mercy

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    2. Ahn ahn, we have heard how d war made ur grandma sonless. How many times na.

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  10. To know what really happened watch Naij the history of Nigeria. It is a documentary based on the history of Nigeria and archive video footage of the war and newspaper articles of that period. Anyone who has it downloaded or has a link where it can be downloaded should please paste the link here. I have been looking for it to download.

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    1. U r very right. That documentary was an eye opener.

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    2. O please! That documentary is so biased. If you really want to know what happened, I'd suggest that one should either look for a documentary that includes interviews of primary sources or persons from the time or look for a documentary or book done by a non Nigerian. That is where you'll hear the raw truth sadly. That Naij is so biased; it irritated me so much to watch.

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    3. Actually cried when I watched the history of Nigeria. Everyone should please watch it. Explains a lot. Google the history of Nigeria. I think the video is there.

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  11. Hmmmm everyone will tell his or her own side of the story how do u know which one is true? Biko ask ppl to share their opinion about Biafra, do dey support the biafrans or not if not they shud state why dey tink Biafra is or isn't a lost cause.

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  12. Read Chinua Achebes book "there was a country" it tells the story of how everything began,the cause,who did what and why Biafra decided to separate from Nigeria .

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  13. Let me go and ask my mother. Afterall na inside bush she hide put

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  14. Lol at respect yourself.
    I can only tell what I read and that's not a first hand report so lemme read on.

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  15. abeg if you really want to know go and read half of a yellow sun by chimamanda adichie and there was a country by chinua achebe. This information is out there and readily available. If you were really interested in knowing you would have sought out these books. All you need to do is google information on the Nigerian civil war and these books will pop out.

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  16. Nice one. Waiting to read comments and hope we won't see different versions here.

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    1. This is useless and totally unnecessary. How would you take any story from the net when you know it would be twisted to suit personal gains and draw bias empathetic affections. This is a useless post and is absolutely 100% uncalled for...issues like this are not given a chance to be discussed. Simple. It is not worth to be discussed in the interest of national peace. Half of a yellow sun was a clear example.

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  17. The only people that can answer this question are those who were actually there. Every other story will be distorted. Igbo people will try to tell the tale that suites them, Yoruba people will do thesame, so will the Hausas and Urhobos et al. Your best bet is to go online and read, not Wikipedia please, but stories that people have written, like them Chinua achebes etc. read from authorities who are Yoruba, Hausas and Igbos. Where there is a similarity, then know therein the truth lies.

    I've Also been really curious and that's why I've been reading some things on it. You can check this out http://www.africamasterweb.com/BiafranWarCauses.html , although I also think this one was written to suite a particular tribes story. Good luck in your search, I wish myself the same thing.

    Mary.

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  18. me don't know sha but they should stop the agitation








    #GODWIN™

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  19. Wasn't born then so I'll just read comments...but I heard war na bad thing sha

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  20. Biafra would have been the bride of every black man.
    It would have been a land of equity.
    It would have been the only industrialised black country on earth.
    Its a big shame that it was not allowed to exist.

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    1. Lol lies... ask urself why d igbos attacked first and carried out the 1st coup. Were their motives just? Or borne out of greed. Then ask urself if indeed they r granted biafra along with the whole south south, wld d leaders of biafra b open and fair to the minorities in their midst? What wld happen to the ogonis, ijaws, etc?

      The average igbo cannot stand to see a yoruba man as his equal how much less his president and u truly believe they wld step down for ogoniman to rule? Lolol

      The igbo hate every one including themselves. Imo vs abi a etc I'm from arbor n I remember clearly how we taunted that we rnt real igbos. Now time to share land/oil they suddenly remember we r one biafra...

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    2. Yimu, dey dere dey dream. Thats how most Women think the bfs they didnt marry would have been Mr. Right or better than DH. Fantasy. Greed n Arrogance would have killed Biafra on arrival

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  21. The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War, 6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970, was a war fought to counter the secession of Biafra from Nigeria. Biafra represented nationalist aspirations of the Igbo people, whose leadership felt they could no longer coexist with the Northern-dominated federal government. The conflict resulted from political, economic, ethnic, cultural and religious tensions which preceded Britain's formal decolonization of Nigeria from 1960–1963. Immediate causes of the war in 1966 included a military coup, a counter-coup, and persecution of Igbo living in Northern Nigeria. Control over oil production in the Niger Delta played a vital strategic role.

    Within a year, the Federal Military Government surrounded Biafra, capturing coastal oil facilities and the city of Port Harcourt. The blockade imposed during the ensuing stalemate led to severe famine—accomplished deliberately as a war strategy.[citation needed] Over the two and half years of the war, about two million civilians died from starvation and diseases.[citation needed]

    This famine entered world awareness in mid-1968, when images of malnourished and starving children suddenly saturated the mass media of Western countries. The plight of the starving Biafrans became a cause célèbre in foreign countries, enabling a significant rise in the funding and prominence of international non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Britain and the Soviet Union were the main backers of the Federal Military Government in Lagos, while France and some independent elements supported Biafra. France and Israel provided weapons to both combatants.

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  22. Ask ur parents...

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  23. I really want to know what actually happened cos the only only one I know is the one I read in "half of a yellow sun" by Chima Amanda

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  24. How can u be asking diverse stories while asking for the original story???

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  25. I wasn't born yet but my mum had lots of stories.

    How it was voluntary entry into the biafran army by the young men of my village at firSt, then when the numbers started dying down...they came and forcefully took any young man beyond the ages of 17yrs, gave them uniforms and guns and took them to battle.
    When those ones died, they came back for boys of any age.
    Families strted hiding the young men.

    Then the soildiers came for the young girls above 18yrs!!
    That was when my granny took my mum and her 2 sisters to the forest with other families, dug big holes and hid them there and covered them up with camouflaged mats!
    She said her extended family lost alot of young sons while they the girls lost most of their brothers. Some their corpses were brought back with the news of their death while others were declared lost or whereabouts unknown.

    The dat the war ended , they all stood outside with green palm fronds as a signal of their surrender while the Nigerian police toured the village.

    They cried for the lives they lost but also dances in thanksgiving that no more lives will be lost.

    IMO: Biafra as a country is not ready to be actualized. And if it will bring another war to take away our young men, may it Never come to pass AMEN!

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    1. Nigerian *soliders

      *Danced

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    2. A woman was invited to ebony life tv nd she gave this exact narrative, nd how she nd some other girls slept in the forest for 9 mnths nd d water they use to shower sef is a problem nd it's even worst wen they r seeing their period. Nd how they could hear the lions roar. How little kids were taken to neighbouring countries to be treated bcoz they were malnourished nd some of them died sef. I dnt pray for us to witness this o. Instead they shd be a peace talk betwen the biafra and the Govt Instead of all this war thing.

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    3. My Dad was not old enough,but he wanted to fight so bad.
      So he went to join,after they measured his height,he was asked to go home..he wept bitterly and after his persistence the following days to come,he was allowed to join the battalion...

      My mom was a kid,but she could remember this song:

      Biafra take my bullet when I die,Biafra takeeee my bullet when I die

      If I happen surrender,or die for Biafra...Biafra takee my bullet when I dieee

      The war was bloody,people were killed,women were raped...
      Caritas and other churches/organisations sent food in for Biafrans.

      My mom and her siblings would queue up to get food..Salt especially.

      During the war,my mom's uncle was getting married...they had to cover the bride with palmfronds to avoid air strikes(why did they bride even wear white?) Little celebrations like this take their minds off the war until another air missles shatters the silence.

      Awolowo suggested the starvation strategy...it worked,you see the Biafrans were not backing down infact Nigerians were shocked!They fought fearlessly.

      As part of strategic planning, the Nigerian Navy blocked the eastern region from the sea thereby preventing shipment of arms, equipment, food and other war materials and services into the East.  At the same time all flights to the region were cancelled and the international community were informed that no flight to the region would be accepted without clearance from Lagos.

      Nigerian government blocked the food sources,from Calabar..and then the hunger came..Biafran soldiers pounced on the crops of the people they were supposed to be guarding...

      In January 1970,biafrans surrendered.
      Few days before then,Ojukwu had fled with his family(hes still my fearless hero)

      Obafemi Awolowo is the hero of the civil war whose wartime policy of starvation and currency change helped kill the Biafran dream.

      I respect the choices people made during that war,some betrayed,some killed,some back stabbed...that was when men were men... I hate war!!!!!!

      Rip to the Nigerian and Biafran Soldiers that lost their lives...Our Hero's Past!


      As for the cause:
      The Igbo's felt they could not coexist in a Northern dominated country...

      The conflict emanated as a result of cultural,economic,religious differences...after our colonial masters left.

      Immediate causes of the war was coups and counter coups.
      Igbo's were slain in the north,persecuted,control of oil production in the Niger Delta was also a major deal breaker...infact there were lots of grievances..

      Signing out...

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    4. All i know is that Awolowo should have been tried in a court of law! Cutting biafra off foodstuff is a war crime. More people died at home from starvation than soldiers in the battle field. I hope all u other tribes can see why the ibos cant forgive? Cos no one has been punished. No one has taken the blame or apologised. Y'all want to brush ur atrocities under the carpet,acting like nothing happened and trying to intimidate us to hush it and move on. Please someone should tag baba go slow on this post,if he needs to do well,then he should handle these problems head on

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    5. Why send them all out to die? Who then will you rule? Igbos are a selfish set of people. We hate everyone including ourselves. How can you send kids out to war fronts? I can imagine how Nigerians would have laughed at us. Is this what we all want again? Image your cute little boy who can't even stand up for himself at school being sent to the war front with a gun? I'm all for Nigeria. Biafra is just a dream.

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    6. My mum is alive today is because of an Hausa family. When the massacre was going on in the North,a family hid her n her brother.
      Till today,she will tell you that Hausas are good,kind n everything good.She was a lil girl n they family always dressed her lika an hausa girl n didnt allow her go out. Thankfully,she spoke the lang well.

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    7. Iphie dearie...thanks for ur recount. You spoke about areas I forgot to mention. The starvation was so bad people laid down and died in their houses or on the road.

      Irene B , thank God for that family that saved ur mum and d bro. There are good people everywhere irrespective of tribe and when God wants to save u, even If I are on the midst of evils, he will send angels ur way.

      War is bad. Does the south east deserve their own country? Yes! BUT if it will be bought on the blood of their own people then I say NO to it!!!

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  26. Nigeria's First Republic came into being on 1 October 1960. The first prime minister of Nigeria, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, was a northerner and co-founder of the Northern People's Congress. He formed an alliance with the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons party, and its popular nationalist leader Nnamdi "Zik" Azikiwe, who became Governor General and then President. The Yoruba-aligned Action Group, the third major party, played the opposition role.[33]

    Workers became increasingly aggrieved by low wages and bad conditions, especially when they compared their lot to the lifestyles of politicians in Lagos. Most wage earners lived in the Lagos area, and many lived in overcrowded dangerous housing. Labor activity including strikes intensified in 1963, culminating in a nationwide general strike in June 1964. Strikers disobeyed an ultimatum to return to work and at one point were dispersed by riot police. Eventually, they did win raise increases. The strike included people from all ethnic groups.[34] Retired Brigadier General H. M. Njoku later wrote that the general strike heavily exacerbated tensions between the Army and ordinary civilians, and put pressure on the Army to take action against a government which was widely perceived as corrupt.[35]

    The 1964 elections, which involved heavy campaigning all year, brought ethnic and regional divisions into focus. Resentment of politicians ran high and many campaigners feared for their safety while touring the country. The Army repeatedly deployed to Tiv Division, killing hundreds and arresting thousands of Tiv people agitating for self determination.[36][37]

    Widespread reports of fraud tarnished the election's legitimacy.[36] Westerners especially resented the political domination of the Northern People's Congress, many of whose candidates ran unopposed in the election. Violence spread throughout the country and some began to flee the North and West, some to Dahomey.[38] 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.[39]

    Britain maintained its economic hold on the country, through continued alliance and reinforcement of the Northern bloc. In addition to Shell-BP, the British reaped profits from mining and commerce. The British-owned United Africa Company alone controlled 41.3% of all Nigeria's foreign trade.[40] At 516,000 barrels per day, Nigeria had become the tenth biggest oil exporter in the world.[41]

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    1. Plagiarism. Please quote the source when you are done.

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  27. On 15 January 1966, Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna and other junior Army officers (mostly majors and captains) attempted a coup d'état. The two major political leaders of the north, the prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and the Premier of the northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello were executed by Major Nzeogwu. Also murdered was Sir Ahmadu Bello's wife and officers of Northern extraction. Meanwhile, the President, Sir Nnamdi Azikiwe, an Igbo, was on an extended vacation in the West Indies. He did not return until days after the coup. There was widespread suspicion that the Igbo coup plotters had tipped him and other Igbo leaders off regarding the impending coup. In addition to the killings of the Northern political leaders, the Premier of the Western region , Ladoke Akintola and Yoruba senior military offiers were also killed. The coup, also referred to as "The Coup of the Five Majors", has been described in some quarters as Nigeria's only revolutionary coup.[42] This was the first coup in the short life of Nigeria's nascent second democracy. Claims of electoral fraud were one of the reasons given by the coup plotters.

    This coup was however seen not as a revolutionary coup by other sections of Nigerians , especially in the Northern and Western sections and latter revisioninsts of Nigerian coups, mostly from Eastern part of Nigeria have belatedly maintained to widespread disbelief amongst Western and Southern Nigerians that the majors sought to spring Action Group leader Obafemi Awolowo out of jail and make him head of the new government. From there, they would dismantle the Northern-dominated power structure. However, their efforts to take power were thwarted by Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, an Igbo and loyalist head of the Nigerian Army, who suppressed coup operations in the South. The majors surrendered, and Aguiyi-Ironsi was declared head of state on 16 January.[43][44]

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  28. Aguyi-Ironsi suspended the constitution and dissolved parliament. He then abolished the regional confederated form of government and pursued unitary like policies heithero favoured by the NCNC, having apparently been influenced by some NCNC political philosophy. He however appointed Colonel Hassan Katsina, son of Katsina emir Usman Nagogo, to govern the Northern Region, indicating some willingness to maintain cooperation with this bloc.[45] He also preferentially released northern politicians from jail (enabling them to plan his forthcoming overthrow).[46] Aguyi-Ironsi rejected a British offer of military support but promised to protect British interests; however … Britain participated in overthrow?[47]

    Ironsi fatally did not bring the failed plotters to trial as required by then-military law and as advised by most northern and western officers,rather, coup plotters were maintained in the military on full pay and some were even promoted while apparently awaiting trial. The coup, despite its failure and since no repercussion was meted out to coup plotters and since no significant Igbo political leaders were affected was widely perceived as having benefited mostly the Igbo. Most of the known coup plotters were Igbo and the military and political leadership of Westerrn and Northern regions had been largely bloodily eliminated while Eastern military/political leadership was largely untouched. However Ironsi, himself an Igbo, was thought to have made numerous attempts to please Northerners. The other event that also fuelled the so-called "Igbo conspiracy" was the killing of Northern leaders, and the killing of the Colonel Shodeinde's pregnant wife by the coup executioners. Despite the overwhelming contradictions of the coup being executed by mostly Northern soldiers (such as John Atom Kpera, later military governor of Benue State), the killing of Igbo soldier Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Unegbe by coup executioners, and Ironsi's termination of an Igbo-led coup, the ease by which Ironsi stopped the coup led to suspicion that the Igbo coup plotters planned all along to pave the way for Ironsi to take the reins of power in Nigeria.

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  29. Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu became military governor of the Eastern Region at this time.[48] On 24 May 1966, the military government issued Unification Decree #34, which would have replaced the federation with a more centralized system. The Northern bloc found this decree intolerable.[49]

    In the face of provocation from the Eastern media which repeatedly showed humiliating posters and cartoons of the slain northern politicians, on the night of 29 July 1966, northern soldiers at Abeokuta barracks mutinied, thus precipitating a counter-coup, which have already been in the planning stages. The counter-coup led to the installation of Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon as Supreme Commander of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Gowon was chosen as a compromise candidate. He was a Northerner, a Christian, from a minority tribe, and had a good reputation within the army.

    It seems that Gowon immediately faced not only a potential standoff with the East, but secession threats from the Northern and even the Western region.[50] The counter-coup plotters had considered using the opportunity to withdraw from the federation themselves. Ambassadors from Britain and the United States, however, urged Gowon to maintain control over the whole country. Gowon followed this plan, repealing the Unification Decree, announcing a return to the federal system.[51]

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  30. Edit
    From June through October 1966, pogroms in the North killed tens of thousands of Igbos and caused millions to flee to the Eastern Region.[52][53] 29 September 1966, was considered the worst day.[54]

    Ethnomusicologist Charles Keil, who was visiting Nigeria in 1966, recounted:

    The pogroms I witnessed in Makurdi, Nigeria (late Sept. 1966) were foreshadowed by months of intensive anti-Ibo and anti-Eastern conversations among Tiv, Idoma, Hausa and other Northerners resident in Makurdi, and, fitting a pattern replicated in city after city, the massacres were led by the Nigerian army. Before, during and after the slaughter, Col. Gowan could be heard over the radio issuing 'guarantees of safety' to all Easterners, all citizens of Nigeria, but the intent of the soldiers, the only power that counts in Nigeria now or then, was painfully clear. After counting the disemboweled bodies along the Makurdi road I was escorted back to the city by soldiers who apologized for the stench and explained politely that they were doing me and the world a great favor by eliminating Ibos

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  31. Nice one
    History will always be a part of us

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  32. On 27 May 1967, Gowon proclaimed the division of Nigeria into twelve states. This decree carved the Eastern Region in three parts: South Eastern State, Rivers State, and East Central State. Now the Igbos, concentrated in the East Central State, would lose control over most of the petroleum, located in the other two areas.[56][57]

    On 30 May 1967, Ojukwu declared independence of the Republic of Biafra.

    The Federal Military Government immediately placed an embargo on all shipping to and from Biafra—but not on oil tankers.[55][56] Biafra quickly moved to collect oil royalties from oil companies doing business within its borders.[56] When Shell-BP acquiesced to this request at the end of June, the Federal Government extended its blockade to include oil.[58] The blockade, which most foreign actors accepted, played a decisive role in putting Biafra at a disadvantage from the beginning of the war.[59]

    Although the very young nation had a chronic shortage of weapons to go to war, it was determined to defend itself. Although there was much sympathy in Europe and elsewhere, only five countries (Tanzania, Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, Zambia and Haiti) officially recognised the new republic. Britain supplied amounts of heavy weapons and ammunition to the Nigerian side because of its desire to preserve the country it created. The Biafra side on the other hand found it difficult to purchase arms as the countries who supported it did not provide arms and ammunition. The heavy supply of weapons by Britain was the biggest factor in determining the outcome of the war.

    Several peace accords, especially the one held at Aburi, Ghana (the Aburi Accord), collapsed and the shooting war soon followed. Ojukwu managed at Aburi to get agreement to a confederation for Nigeria, rather than a federation. He was warned by his advisers that this reflected a failure of Gowon to understand the difference and, that being the case, predicted that it would be reneged upon. When this happened, Ojukwu regarded it as both a failure by Gowon to keep to the spirit of the Aburi agreement, and lack of integrity on the side of the Nigerian Military Government in the negotiations toward a united Nigeria. Gowon's advisers, to the contrary, felt that he had enacted as much as was politically feasible in fulfillment of the spirit of Aburi.[60] The Eastern Region was very ill equipped for war, outmanned and outgunned by the Nigerians. Their advantages included fighting in their homeland, support of most Easterners, determination, and use of limited resources.

    The UK-which still maintained the highest level of influence over Nigeria's highly valued oil industry through Shell-BP-[61] and the Soviet Union supported (especially militarily) the Nigerian government.

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    1. This is the most one sided piece of shit i have ever read.
      This post is not just it.

      Delete
    2. Sunshine let me guess u can't believe how two faced and hate filled u yorubas are ...two faced self serving fools ....

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    3. Sushine its either u believe it or you don't, d person that wrote that article is not a Nigerian. So pls just observe, read and shut your mouth.

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  33. Shortly after extending its blockade to include oil, the Nigerian government launched a "police action" to retake the secessionist territory.[62] The war began on 6 July 1967 when Nigerian Federal troops advanced in two columns into Biafra. The Nigerian Army offensive was through the north of Biafra led by Colonel Mohammed Shuwa and the local military units were formed as the 1st Infantry Division. The division was led mostly by northern officers. After facing unexpectedly fierce resistance and high casualties, the right-hand Nigerian column advanced on the town of Nsukka which fell on 14 July, while the left-hand column made for Garkem, which was captured on 12 July.

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  34. The Biafrans responded with an offensive of their own when, on 9 August, the Biafran forces moved west into the Mid-Western Nigerian region across the Niger river, passing through Benin City, until they were stopped at Ore (in present day Ondo State) just over the state boundary on 21 August, just 130 miles east of the Nigerian capital of Lagos. The Biafran attack was led by Lt. Col. Banjo, a Yoruba, with the Biafran rank of brigadier. The attack met little resistance and the Mid-West was easily taken over.

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  35. This was due to the pre-secession arrangement that all soldiers should return to their regions to stop the spate of killings, in which Igbo soldiers had been major victims.[17][63] The Nigerian soldiers that were supposed to defend the Mid-West state were mostly Mid-West Igbo and while some were in touch with their eastern counterparts, others resisted. General Gowon responded by asking Colonel Murtala Mohammed (who later became head of state in 1975) to form another division (the 2nd Infantry Division) to expel the Biafrans from the Mid-West, as well as defend the West side and attack Biafra from the West as well. As Nigerian forces retook the Mid-West, the Biafran military administrator declared the Republic of Benin on 19 September, though it ceased to exist the next day. (The present country of Benin, west of Nigeria, was still named Dahomey at that time.)

    Although Benin City was retaken by the Nigerians on 22 September, the Biafrans succeeded in their primary objective by tying down as many Nigerian Federal troops as they could. Gen. Gowon also launched an offensive into Biafra south from the Niger Delta to the riverine area using the bulk of the Lagos Garrison command under Colonel Benjamin Adekunle (called the Black Scorpion) to form the 3rd Infantry Division (which was later renamed as the 3rd Marine Commando). As the war continued, the Nigerian Army recruited amongst a wider area, including the Yoruba, Itshekiri, Urhobo, Edo, Ijaw, etc.

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  36. Four battalions of the Nigerian 2nd Infantry Division were needed to drive the Biafrans back and eliminate their territorial gains made during the offensive. Nigerian soldiers under Murtala Mohammed carried out a mass killing of 700 civilians when they captured Asaba on the River Niger. The Nigerians were repulsed three times as they attempted to cross the River Niger during October, resulting in the loss of thousands of troops, dozens of tanks and equipment. The first attempt by the 2nd Infantry Division on 12 October to cross the Niger from the town of Asaba to the Biafran city of Onitsha cost the Nigerian Federal Army over 5,000 soldiers killed, wounded, captured or missing. Operation Tiger Claw (17–20 October 1967) was a military conflict between Nigerian and Biafran military forces. On 17 October 1967 Nigerians invaded Calabar led by the "Black Scorpion", Benjamin Adekunle while the Biafrans were led by Col. Ogbu Ogi, who was responsible for controlling the area between Calabar and Opobo, and Lynn Garrison a foreign mercenary. The Biafrans came under immediate fire from the water and the air. For the next two days Biafran stations and military supplies were bombarded by the Nigerian air force. That same day Lynn Garrison reached Calabar but came under immediate fire by federal troops. By 20 October, Garrison's forces withdrew from the battle while Col. Ogi officially surrendered to Gen. Adekunle.

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  37. Four battalions of the Nigerian 2nd Infantry Division were needed to drive the Biafrans back and eliminate their territorial gains made during the offensive. Nigerian soldiers under Murtala Mohammed carried out a mass killing of 700 civilians when they captured Asaba on the River Niger. The Nigerians were repulsed three times as they attempted to cross the River Niger during October, resulting in the loss of thousands of troops, dozens of tanks and equipment. The first attempt by the 2nd Infantry Division on 12 October to cross the Niger from the town of Asaba to the Biafran city of Onitsha cost the Nigerian Federal Army over 5,000 soldiers killed, wounded, captured or missing. Operation Tiger Claw (17–20 October 1967) was a military conflict between Nigerian and Biafran military forces. On 17 October 1967 Nigerians invaded Calabar led by the "Black Scorpion", Benjamin Adekunle while the Biafrans were led by Col. Ogbu Ogi, who was responsible for controlling the area between Calabar and Opobo, and Lynn Garrison a foreign mercenary. The Biafrans came under immediate fire from the water and the air. For the next two days Biafran stations and military supplies were bombarded by the Nigerian air force. That same day Lynn Garrison reached Calabar but came under immediate fire by federal troops. By 20 October, Garrison's forces withdrew from the battle while Col. Ogi officially surrendered to Gen. Adekunle.

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  38. Towards the end of July 1967 Nigeria captured Bonny Island in the Niger Delta, thereby taking control of vital Shell-BP facilities.[64] Operations began again in May 1968, when Nigeria captured Port Harcourt. Its facilities had been damaged and needed repair.[65] Production and export continued at a lower level. The completion in 1969 of a new terminal at Forçados brought production up from 142,000 barrels/day in 1958 to 540,000 barrels/day in 1969. In 1970, this figure doubled to 1,080,000 barrels/day. The royalties enabled Nigeria to buy more weapons, hire mercenaries, etc. Biafra proved unable to compete on this economic leve

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  39. From 1968 onward, the war fell into a form of stalemate, with Nigerian forces unable to make significant advances into the remaining areas of Biafran control due to stiff resistance and major defeats in Abagana, Arochukwu, Oguta, Umuahia (Operation OAU), Onne, Ikot Ekpene, etc.[101] But another Nigerian offensive from April to June 1968 began to close the ring around the Biafrans with further advances on the two northern fronts and the capture of Port Harcourt on 19 May 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.[102]

    The Biafran government reported that Nigeria was using hunger and genocide to win the war, and sought aid from the outside world. Private groups in the US, led by Senator Ted Kennedy, responded. No one was ever held responsible for these killings.

    In September 1968, the federal army planned what Gowon described as the "final offensive." Initially the final offensive was neutralised by Biafran troops by the end of the year after several Nigerian troops were routed in Biafran ambushes. In the latter stages, a Southern FMG offensive managed to break through. However in 1969, the Biafrans launched several offensives against the Nigerians in their attempts to keep the Nigerians off-balance starting in March when the 14th Division of the Biafran army recaptured Owerri and moved towards Port Harcourt, but were halted just north of the city. In May 1969, Biafran commandos recaptured oil wells in Kwale. In July 1969, Biafran forces launched a major land offensive supported by foreign mercenary pilots continuing to fly in food, medical supplies and weapons. Most notable of the mercenaries was Swedish Count Carl Gustav von Rosen who led air attacks with five Malmö MFI-9 MiniCOIN small piston-engined aircraft, armed with rocket pods and machine guns. His Biafran Air Force consisted of three Swedes: von Rosen, Gunnar Haglund and Martin Lang. The other two pilots were Biafrans: Willy Murray-Bruce and Augustus Opke. From 22 May to 8 July 1969 von Rosen's small force attacked Nigerian military airfields in Port Harcourt, Enugu, Benin City and Ughelli, destroying or damaging a number of Nigerian Air Force jets used to attack relief flights, including a few Mig-17's and three of Nigeria's six Ilyushin Il-28 bombers that were used to bomb Biafran villages and farms on a daily basis. Although the Biafran offensives of 1969 were a tactical success, the Nigerians soon recovered. The Biafran air attacks did disrupt the combat operations of the Nigerian Air Force, but only for a few months.

    In response to the Nigerian government using foreigners to lead some advances, the Biafran government also began hiring foreign mercenaries to extend the war.[103] Only German born Rolf Steiner a Lt. Col. with the 4th Commandos, and Major Taffy Williams, a Welshman would remain for the duration.[104] Nigeria also deployed foreign combatants, in the form of Egyptian pilots for their air force MiG 17 fighters and Il 28 bombers. The Egyptian conscripts frequently attacked civilian rather than military targets, bombing numerous Red Cross shelters.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Awareness of a mounting crisis rose in 1968. Information spread especially through religious networks, beginning with alerts from missionaries. It did not escape the notice of worldwide Christian organisations that the Biafrans were Christian and the northern Nigerians controlling the federal government were Muslim.[106]

    Many volunteer bodies organised the Biafran airlift which provided blockade-breaking relief flights into Biafra, carrying food, medicines, and sometimes (according to some claims) weapons.[105] More common was the claim that the arms-carrying aircraft would closely shadow aid aircraft, making it more difficult to distinguish between aid aircraft and military supply aircraft.[105]

    One of the interesting characters assisting Count Carl Gustav von Rosen was Lynn Garrison, an ex-RCAF fighter pilot. He introduced the Count to a Canadian method of dropping bagged supplies to remote areas in Canada without losing the contents. He showed how one sack of food could be placed inside a larger sack before the supply drop. When the package hit the ground the inner sack would rupture while the outer one kept the contents intact. With this method many tons of food were dropped to many Biafrans who would otherwise have died of starvation.

    Bernard Kouchner was one of a number of French doctors who volunteered with the French Red Cross to work in hospitals and feeding centres in besieged Biafra. The Red Cross required volunteers to sign an agreement, which was seen by some (like Kouchner and his supporters) as being similar to a gag order, that was designed to maintain the organisation's neutrality, whatever the circumstances. Kouchner and the other French doctors signed this agreement.

    After entering the country, the 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. Kouchner also witnessed these events, particularly the huge number of starving children, and when he returned to France, he publicly criticised the Nigerian government and the Red Cross for their seemingly complicit behaviour. With the help of other French doctors, Kouchner put Biafra in the media spotlight and called for an international response to the situation. These doctors, led by Kouchner, concluded that a new aid organisation was needed that would ignore political/religious boundaries and prioritise the welfare of victims. They formed le Comité de Lutte contre le Génocide au Biafra which in 1971 became Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).[107][108]

    The crisis brought about a large increase in prominence and funding of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).[109][110]

    ReplyDelete
  41. With increased British support the Nigerian federal forces launched their final offensive against the Biafrans once again on 23 December 1969 with a major thrust by the 3rd Marine Commando Division the division was commanded by Col. Olusegun Obasanjo (who later became president twice) which succeeded in splitting the Biafran enclave into two by the end of the year. The final Nigerian offensive, named "Operation Tail-Wind", launched on 7 January 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 9 January, and Uli fell on 11 January. Only a few days earlier, Ojukwu fled into exile by flying by plane to the Ivory Coast, leaving his deputy Philip Effiong to handle the details of the surrender to General Yakubu Gowon of the federal army on 13 January 1970. The war finally ended a few days later with the Nigerian forces advancing in the remaining Biafran held territories with little opposition.

    After the war Gowon said, "The tragic chapter of violence is just ended. We are at the dawn of national reconciliation. Once again we have an opportunity to build a new nation. My dear compatriots, we must pay homage to the fallen, to the heroes who have made the supreme sacrifice that we may be able to build a nation, great in justice, fair trade, and industry.

    ReplyDelete
  42. The war cost the Igbos a great deal in terms of lives, money and infrastructure. It has been estimated that up to three million people may have died due to the conflict, most from hunger and disease caused by Nigerian forces.[125][126][127] More than two million people died from the famine imposed deliberately through blockade throughout the war. Lack of medicine also contributed. Thousands of people starved to death every day as the war progressed.[128] (The International Committee of the Red Cross in September 1968 estimated 8,000–10,000 deaths from starvation each day.)[129] The leader of a Nigerian peace conference delegation said in 1968 that "starvation is a legitimate weapon of war and we have every intention of using it against the rebels". This stance is generally considered to reflect the policy of the Nigerian government.[130][131] The federal Nigerian army is accused of further atrocities including deliberate bombing of civilians, mass slaughter with machine guns, and rape.[130]

    Some scholars including Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe continue to argue that the Biafran war was a genocide, for which no perpetrators have been held accountable.[132] Critics of this position suggest that Igbo leaders had some responsibility, but acknowledge that starvation policies were pursued deliberately and that accountability has not been sought for the 1966 pogroms.[130][133] Arguments that this war did not strictly constitute "genocide" focus on political aspects of the war which differ from prototypical genocide, such as the objective to keep Igboland within the Nigerian Federation, and improved conditions for Igbos after the Federal Military Government achieved its political objectives.[134] Despite the high death toll and widespread application of the label "genocide" while the war was taking place, the Nigeria–Biafra war is frequently omitted from lists of genocides. In 1969, Biafra made a formal complaint of genocide against Igbos to the International Committee on the Investigation of Crimes of Genocide, which concluded that British colonial administrators were complicit in the process of fomenting ethnic hatred and violence, dating back to the Kano riots of 1953. With special reference to the Asaba Massacre, Emma Okocha described the killings as "the first black-on-black genocide".[129] Ekwe-Ekwe places significant blame on the British

    ReplyDelete
  43. Reconstruction, helped by the oil money, was swift; however, the old ethnic and religious tensions remained a constant feature of Nigerian politics. Accusations were made of Nigerian government officials diverting resources meant for reconstruction in the former Biafran areas to their ethnic areas. 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.[136] 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.

    Igbos who ran for their lives during the pogroms and war returned to find their positions had been taken over; and when the war was over the government did not feel any need to re-instate them, preferring to regard them as having resigned. This reasoning was also extended to Igbo-owned properties and houses. People from other regions were quick to take over any house owned by an Igbo, especially in the Port Harcourt area. The Nigerian Government justified this by terming such properties abandoned. This, however, has led to a feeling of an injustice as the Nigerian government policies were seen as further economically disabling the Igbos even long after the war. Further feelings of injustice were caused by Nigeria changing its currency, so that Biafran supplies of pre-war Nigerian currency were no longer honoured. At the end of the war, only N£20 was given to any easterner regardless of the amount of money he or she had had in the bank. This was applied irrespective of their banking in pre-war Nigerian currency or Biafran currency. This was seen as a deliberate policy to hold back the Igbo middle class, leaving them with little wealth to expand their business interests.[137]

    On 29 May 2000, The Guardian 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."

    Biafra was more or less wiped off the map until its resurrection by the contemporary Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra.[138] Chinua Achebe's last book, There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra, has also rekindled discussion of the war.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Can you give the source of your story pls?

      Delete
    2. I didn't wanna come to this post cos
      No 1, I was tired.emotionally drained just thinking of very long writing i would do and no 2 cos I didn't wanna re-live all d atrocities meted out to d Igbos during the war.to d women nd children.

      RIP to all those who died in d war.esp to those who suffered before dey died.esp the children who died of hunger.

      To my brothers who fought in d War...May God bless u.

      Delete
    3. Wow! Thanks anon for this. I learnt alot

      Delete
  44. Foluso, wats ur biz with their f*king biafria. stop making ds omo nnas feel important. let em carry deer bag n baggages & gerrout

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I must be very stupid. Born throwaway bastard

      Delete
    2. Anon 16:15, U'll die filled with hate. Bloody ass-licking, cowardly, betraying m.fucker.

      Delete
  45. I hope you read all carefully


    Credit wikipedia


    I would have also copied from other books I read but it would have been a repeatation


    Can we discuss this like grown ups without the kids throwing banters here and there??

    ReplyDelete
  46. Wasnt born then but from my history lessons, e get as e be. My parents have told d story severally. I'm here to learn biko

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Dad was not old enough,but he wanted to fight so bad.
      So he went to join,after they measured his height,he was asked to go home..he wept bitterly and after his persistence the following days to come,he was allowed to join the battalion...

      My mom was a kid,but she could remember this song:

      Biafra take my bullet when I die,Biafra takeeee my bullet when I die

      If I happen surrender,or die for Biafra...Biafra takee my bullet when I dieee

      The war was bloody,people were killed,women were raped...
      Caritas and other churches/organisations sent food in for Biafrans.

      My mom and her siblings would queue up to get food..Salt especially.

      During the war,my mom's uncle was getting married...they had to cover the bride with palmfronds to avoid air strikes(why did they bride even wear white?) Little celebrations like this take their minds off the war until another air missles shatters the silence.

      Awolowo suggested the starvation strategy...it worked,you see the Biafrans were not backing down infact Nigerians were shocked!They fought fearlessly.

      As part of strategic planning, the Nigerian Navy blocked the eastern region from the sea thereby preventing shipment of arms, equipment, food and other war materials and services into the East.  At the same time all flights to the region were cancelled and the international community were informed that no flight to the region would be accepted without clearance from Lagos.

      Nigerian government blocked the food sources,from Calabar..and then the hunger came..Biafran soldiers pounced on the crops of the people they were supposed to be guarding...

      In January 1970,biafrans surrendered.
      Few days before then,Ojukwu had fled with his family(hes still my fearless hero)

      Obafemi Awolowo is the hero of the civil war whose wartime policy of starvation and currency change helped kill the Biafran dream.

      I respect the choices people made during that war,some betrayed,some killed,some back stabbed...that was when men were men... I hate war!!!!!!

      Rip to the Nigerian and Biafran Soldiers that lost their lives...Our Hero's Past!


      As for the cause:
      The Igbo's felt they could not coexist in a Northern dominated country...

      The conflict emanated as a result of cultural,economic,religious differences...after our colonial masters left.

      Immediate causes of the war was coups and counter coups.
      Igbo's were slain in the north,persecuted,control of oil production in the Niger Delta was also a major deal breaker...infact there were lots of grievances..

      Signing out...

      Delete
  47. The story begins in 1956. When Late Chief Enahoro raised the motion for independence. Southern Nigeria was ready and fairly educated while Northern Nigeria opposed independence and has a lower educational level.
    The seeds of the war were sown immediately after independence. Three parties were formed Nnamdi Azikiwe's National Congress for Nigeria & the Cameroons- NCNC (at the time southern Cameroon was still a part of Nigeria) made of mainly Easterners, Chief Awolowo's Action Group (comprising mainly the Yorubas and the MidWest) and Sir Tafawa Balewa's Northern People's Congress (NPC). These parties held sway in their respective regions and the elections made AG the opposition while NCNC produced the Presido (Zik), NPC produced (Balewa). And of course, corruption followed.

    Fast forward to Jan 1966 and a group of young junior Army officers most of them from Asaba & Ibusa in Delta State(Kaduna Nzeogwu,Tim Onwuatuegwu, Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Don Okafor, Adewale Ademoyega etc) planned the coup we all know as the July 1966 coup. Pls note that the coup killed Brig. Zakaria Mailamari the most senior Northern Army officer. After which interim President Nwafor Orizu (Zik & Tafawa Balewa were deposed) handed or was coerced into handling power to Maj Gen Ironsi.

    The Northern officers and the North as a whole wanted the plotters executed but Ironsi locked them up in different prisons for 6 months without trial and so the North saw it as the Ibos killing their leaders and and installing an Ibo man as Head of State who refused to prosecute his fellow Ibos and so the vicious pogroms started.

    July 1966 and the Northern officers executed a brutal counter coup with the intention to secede but the Brits and Americans convinced them not to. 30,000 ibos were murdered and corpses deported to the east. The goverbor of the Eastern Province Lt. Col Ojukwu insisted the coupists (Murtala Moh'd, Shehu Yar'Adua, T.Y Danjuma etc) name Brig. Ogundipe as Head of State after Ironsi's death since he was the most senior military officer but they wanted Murtala. The Brits insisted on Gowon as a Northern Christian and this dude was even Junior to Ojukwu. Hence his refusal to recognise Gowon's govt. Gowon had nothing against the Ibos afterall his fiance at the time was Ibo.

    The massacre of 30,000 ibos and the brutal removal of the Ironsi's govt and installation of a govt led by the same people who instigated the massacre made the Ibos feel unsafe in the country which led to the desire to secede and form Biafra.

    ReplyDelete
  48. To be able to give a near accurate account of the Nigerian civil war, you must have been at least 10 years old at the dawn of the war. Which will put your current age at 58 years old.

    How many people in that demographics read this blog or any other blog for that matter?

    Sorry Folusho, your answer doesn't lie in SDK. You can find and read;

    1) Half of a yellow sun - Chimamanda Adichie
    2) There was a country - Chinua Achebe
    3) Sunset in Biafra - Elechi Amadi
    4) The last duty - Isidore OKpewho

    These books will give you an insight into what the war was about. You can also read Why we struck by Adewale Adegboyga he is from the Nigerian side and it would be nice to read from those who were on the Nigerian side too. No single account can be objective.

    By the way, I would have loved to meet Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu the man who set the ball rolling. There's more to him than what I've found out so far.


    DAWN

    ReplyDelete
  49. Read THERE WAS A COUNTRY BY CHINUA ACHEBE....

    ReplyDelete
  50. Reading the annonymous Wikipedia history I think it was just a sentimental war. Nothing else. We dont want war mbok. God bless Nigeria

    ReplyDelete
  51. Igbos don really suffer abeg if they wan go make them go .

    ReplyDelete
  52. Thank you to the anonymous bv who copied the story from Wikipedia to us. I read carefully and learnt a lot and have recently been learning a lit about this topic.

    I don't think it will be wrong to say that Nigeria fought the war in a dehumanizing way... my pple really suffered a lot during the war I don't expect ignorant people to understand that this is the reason why there will always be a rationality to this Biafran cause as long as we got history.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Thank you to the anonymous bv who copied the story from Wikipedia to us. I read carefully and learnt a lot and have recently been learning a lit about this topic.

    I don't think it will be wrong to say that Nigeria fought the war in a dehumanizing way... my pple really suffered a lot during the war I don't expect ignorant people to understand that this is the reason why there will always be a rationality to this Biafran cause as long as we got history.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you ready for war when it comes. Be careful what you ask for. Do a referendum and leave quietly if you want.

      Delete
  54. The book 'there was a country' by Chinua Achebe gives a detailed account of the biafra war pre and post too.
    I love that book.

    ReplyDelete
  55. @ Anony 16:02, thanks for this interesting read. I read every word.

    See what struck out at me "The Eastern Region was very ill equipped for war, outmanned and outgunned by the Nigerians. Their advantages included fighting in their homeland, support of most Easterners, determination, and use of limited resources." That, in my opinion, was a very not smart thing to do. Wars are won with guns, weapons. Now Nnamdi Kalu is calling for another war based on the same advantages: support of most Easterners & determination. I LMAO.

    I also believe the Igbos should share some responsibilities in the civil war. They plotted the first coup and shed the first blood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahn ahn.
      That anonymous that copied shit from wikipedia, please anyone can alter information there when not 'locked'.
      I dont hate Igbos like some stupid fucks say. My good friend is from Anambra.
      I just hate it when they throw unwarranted insults our way.
      It's not fair. Every tribe had its own fair share of the loss.

      Delete
  56. All i know is that Rivers and Bayelsa people were bloody wicked to the Igbos during the war. I laughed in amazement how Igbos supported Mr. Goodluck when he mischievously added "ebele" to his name.

    My people, i was born in the year 1929 in Panya village. Growing up was fun, no light. Just lamp and moon. There was no Instagram where desperate girls can showoff other peoples private jets as theirs. The young men were pure and hardworking. The older men were noble and responsible.

    Then the war came. It all started like a joke. Agbonma and i were coming back from her daughters igbankwu ceremony. Her daughter, Ada just married one of those visiting white men with nose like Pinocchio. We were talking and eating the remaining roasted yam, when we suddenly heard a banging sound "boom, boom, boom,boom. Before i could gather my thoughts and wrapper, Agbomma has already ran like someone Ijiji the village masquerade was pursuing. Would you blame her? I managed to run under the big ukwa tree by the corner.

    When i was calm enough, i peeped through the scanty leaves and saw people running helter skelter. Then i saw mama ifunanya, running fast and disappearing like a lightning. You see, mama ifunanya is the fattest and laziest woman in Panya village, she is only known to attend ceremonies and festivals but when it is time to go and trade wrapper like every woman in Panya village, she will complain that her legs are too heavy for her to move. She couldn't even finish Standard Six because she complained her legs are too heavy to attend classes.

    Suddenly everywhere became quiet, people started trooping out of their hiding places, whispering to each other ,while going to their various destinations. We knew it has started, the great war, the Biafra war. The war that will catapult us to the center of the world like Papa Ukwunnu , my dear husband always says. I hurriedly joined some group of women going my way.

    Supper was eaten quietly and the food were mostly swallowed without being chewed properly as if they were afraid that the chewing will distract us from what the radio people are saying. The only sound we heard was that of the man behind the radio, praising and exalting Biafran soldiers. Papa Ukwunnu nodded in agreement in what they said. I looked towards my daughter, Ukwunnu. She was staring at her food more than eating the food. I could see the fear in her eyes.

    The title of this Nollywood move is "Chronicles of Ukwunnu"


    Stella Ukwu sugar, Abeg hand dey pain me.

    Poster. You want war stories, go to google or go back to your history textbooks. I know you are indirectly trying to raise dead matters. Biafran war is over. Let it go. I know you are Igbo and you are pro-Biafra.


    XOXO MYSTERY

    ReplyDelete
  57. Nigeria needs to be restructured but my Igbo friends, we do not have to go to war before realizing your dream country, Biafra. In civilized society, referendum is usually used to settle such issue. I was in primary school in Ibadan during the civil war. Mere sight of plane in sky will result in people running helter skelter. Igbos abandon their properties all over Nigeria. Effects of war usually run through a generation. The fact that we do not have a President of Igbo extraction today is one of the effects of civil war. Igbos are very enterprising and they have established businesses all over the country. What will happen to those businesses if we go to war? Why do we need to disrupt our lives? The route to the suggested referendum may be time consuming but it is safest route for everybody.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Whatever the story, the fact remains that the Igbos fired the first shot killing Hausa leaders and the Hausa's retaliated.

    What did they expect the Hausa's to do when their leaders were killed and their deaths ridiculed. If the Igbos suffered during the war, what did they expect to happen when they start a war?

    Do they think war is a game? people will die and their people died and suffered for it. They should deal with it already and learn from their mistakes and not try decades later to start another one.

    The Biafran war is no different from any other war that has happened on earth so they should stop whining as if what they went through is unique to only them during a war.

    War is war anywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  59. THE UNBIASED BOOK BY A FORMER BBC FREELANCE JOURNALIST FREDRICK FORSYTH IS ON AMAZON:

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Biafra-Story-Making-African/dp/1844155234

    ALSO FROM NIGERIAN BOOKSTORES ONE CAN BUY: ALEXANDER MADIEBO'S THE NIGERIAN REVOLUTION AND THE BIAFRAN WAR. Or on amazon.
    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=NIGERIAN+REVOLUTION+AND+THE+BIAFRAN+WAR

    The policy of the Nigerian government to strip the Nigerian educational curriculum of the "Biafran war" is part of the gargantuan problems causing the confusion today. It amazes me why each time "Biafra" is mentioned, the Nigerian government goes hysterical, more so epileptic with fear.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Hello friends, Let me start by saying that, we're all living in ignorance. Expecially those of us that weren't born
    during the war.

    "Biafra or no Biafra" we should all go back home and ask all our old parents what they all witnessed during
    Biafran war.

    I will always live to remember what my late Dad told us about the Biafran war.
    There was hardship, deaths, starvation that lead to kwashioko that killed millions of children.
    So many people died of hunger. No even by guns or the massive bombs .

    In conclusion, Am proudly igbo. So therefore, I don't want to witness war. Neither do I want my
    children to do too. I will not advice any igbo to spit fire all in the name of Biafra. We should use our tongue to count teeth.

    ReplyDelete
  61. l did know Ojukwu fled into exile, that man is a bad man he left my grand parent to died in the war God will judge him and his family.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Hello friends, Let me start by saying that, we're all living in ignorance. Expecially those of us that weren't born
    during the war.

    "Biafra or no Biafra" we should all go back home and ask all our old parents what they all witnessed during
    Biafran war.

    I will always live to remember what my late Dad told us about the Biafran war.
    There was hardship, deaths, starvation that lead to kwashioko that killed millions of children.
    So many people died of hunger. No even by guns or the massive bombs .

    In conclusion, Am proudly igbo. So therefore, I don't want to witness war. Neither do I want my
    children to do too. I will not advice any igbo to spit fire all in the name of Biafra. We should use our tongue to count teeth.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Hello friends, Let me start by saying that, we're all living in ignorance. Expecially those of us that weren't born
    during the war.

    "Biafra or no Biafra" we should all go back home and ask all our old parents what they all witnessed during
    Biafran war.

    I will always live to remember what my late Dad told us about the Biafran war.
    There was hardship, deaths, starvation that lead to kwashioko that killed millions of children.
    So many people died of hunger. No even by guns or the massive bombs .

    In conclusion, Am proudly igbo. So therefore, I don't want to witness war. Neither do I want my
    children to do too. I will not advice any igbo to spit fire all in the name of Biafra. We should use our tongue to count teeth.

    ReplyDelete
  64. l did know Ojukwu fled into exile, that man is a bad man he left my grand parent to died in the war God will judge him and his family.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Fortunately ,Gowon is still alive. He can give the true story if approached. What do u think SDK? I was born in 1969 and my tribe and people born around that period, including myself were given tribal marks for identification. Heard it was really terrible . War is over but tribal marks on my face remains and will take good earnings to remove by plastic surgery.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. On a lighter note

      This has to be used in Sunday laughs!!
      Lmao@War is over but Tribal marks on my face remains...

      Delete
  66. But Nnamdi Kalu does not even have the majority support of the east. Ibos leave in all parts of Nigeria and are not happy to give up their life's investments to return home to Biafra so this failed British citizen turned Biafran can lead them politically and spiritually (I believe he said Saturday is the only day worship will be allowed.
    As a writer pointed out, what happens to the minorities? You have Ibos living everywhere so they now riot in Port Harcourt for example and say Rivers people are with them in their struggle. When you speak to Rivers people, they emphatically state that they are not Ibo and have no wish to be lumped with the Ibos in Biafra. Like most Nigerians they distrust the ability of the Ibos to treat anybody fairly when it comes to money or in this case Oil. You ahve a scenario when Nnamdi insists anybody whose mother ties up and down wrapper is Ibo and the South South Niger deltans insisting they are not. I have never heard of such a scenario where an ethnic group is being spoken for by another ethnic group.

    ReplyDelete
  67. "They started the first coup and shed the first blood" , we can all see that they are the problem of this country

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You fool

      Please read Bonaparte story very well and explain how the igbos started the fight alone. Your people betrayed them after they plotted the coup together..

      Delete
    2. That'd not true

      The ending part of your summary

      Gowan had already divided it even before the eve of the war. It was already eastern state and river state

      It was immediately Gowan came to power that he made it 12 States, 3 went to. South and Eastern part. Northern part got 6 and the South west got other part.


      And you weren't right were you said that's what started biafra. Due to the porogom, Igbo left the north to the state and felt it was wise to be on their own.

      Gowon on wanting to make them return to Nigeria started a war and that led the the civil war..

      Delete
  68. Most Igbo leaders before independence were born in the North. Azikiwe, Achebe etc that shows Igbos were at home in the North, but some igbo officers(who iI believe were high on weed mixed with dry pepper) like, Nzeogwu, ikemufuna etc decided to wipe out every known Northern and south Western political and military leaders in the name of fighting corruption. No single igbo leader died in that first coup. And when Ironsi took over he did nothing. Mind you at that time in our history 70% of civil servants were igbo because there were more educated but they want more. Nigeria lost trust in them since that day in 1966. The Igbos were the first to embark on ethnic cleansing characterised with hatred. There was no pogrom before 1966 coup. We actually cast the first stone the hausa, we playing the victim. while majority of others were only forced into holes for political expediencies or other reasons best known to the president. What we face today is the consequences of Major Nzeogwu and Co. They don't want Igbos to go and they don't trust us. Igbos were jubilant on the death of Ahmadu Bello and other Northern leaders even in Kaduna. That's is what largely led to the pogrom in 1966 before the war in 1967.

    ReplyDelete
  69. To put it bluntly, this war was started after there was a coup carried out by predominantly Ibo coup plotters, who killed leaders from other ethnic groups except theirs and installed someone from their ethnic group as leader of the country. The coup plotters were shielded and not persecuted.
    The Ibos, then had the temerity to mock the killings of the leaders of these other ethnic groups, because they thought power now lay in their hands. The tables were turned on them when there was the counter coup and Ibos officers were now the ones on the receiving end. It further led to ethnic cleansing of the Ibos and the rest is history.
    I do not blame the Ibos for fighting the civil war, afterall they were being killed in hundreds of thousands and the government could not protect them so what else could they do. However, I blame Ojukwu for not ending the war sooner so fewer of his people died. Instead he used propaganda to scare his people into believing if they stopped fighting they would be completely wiped out. What sort of mother watches her children starve while she is eating what little food there is and makes no effort to surrender, knowing that this would enable her children get the help they need?
    I blame the Ibos who as a matter of pride, have stuck to the idea that they must be allowed to form their own country Biafra and they are taking all the south south minorities with them, as if they are blocks of wood to be casually tucked under ones arms. Taking the south south is not out of love for their Brethren but purely for the financial (from oil) and geographic advantage of not being landlocked.
    I blame the lazy elements who at a time when their lives are not at risk, for no other reason than being under the influence of this cult leader called Nnamdi Kalu, are agitating for the actualization of a nation called Biafra. I call him a cult leader because he is clearly deranged and his followers appear to be brainwashed individuals ready to kill for him and be killed. He has openly solicited for arms from Ibos, insisting that is the only way to get their Biafra and people are supporting this individual. When asked by a follower what plans he had in place in case they get arrested, his reply? "that can never happen as what we are doing is a done thing acknowledged by the united nations". He does not believe in Nigeria but believes in the UK and when contrary to what he expected, he was arrested, he immediately got people to petition his MP in the UK to demand his release from the Nigerian government. I laughed when I saw her email requesting his release saying his movement was non violent. Oyinbo are so gullible. If she had just done a google search on him, she would have seen videos where he openly solicits arms, encourages violence and incites people to kill innocent people on the basis of tribe. As for his followers who have been arrested, I wonder what is going through their heads, hearing how the UK is agitating for his release while they might spend the better part of their lives locked up b/c of their stupidity. He cannot bear to hold a Nigerian passport but he can bear to hold a British passport right?

    ReplyDelete
  70. The only true account about the Biafra war is the one by Fredrick Forsyth in his Book "EMEKA". Though the book dwelt mainly on the life of Emeka Ojukwu, it also gave an unbiased account of the cause of the war, and how it was fought.

    ReplyDelete
  71. I read every word anon and its quite inspiring.This biafran ting has really got me thinking. Are the igbos really ready for this?

    ReplyDelete
  72. Before independence the northern leaders were not too keen. They then gave conditions for supporting independence, part of which was that they will produce the Prime minister. Awolowo's was not in support of this and tried to convince Azikiwe that the south should go it alone. Zik, probably because of his links with the north, was more conciliatory and agreed to the demands. The NCNC formed and alliance with the NPC and they formed the government. The AG was left in opposition. The Igbos, being the more educated in the partnership, expected that they will naturally rideshod over the northerners but this was not to be. They had come to believe that they were the only group that should rule the country, and unfortunately the alliance with the north did not give them that. Meanwhile they, because of their educational advantage, we're all over the civil service but this was not enough. So their majors got together and decided to wrest power by force of arms. They killed all prominent politician from other parts of the country but NOT ONE IGBO POLITICIAN WAS KILLED. They then handed over power to another igbo man - Ironsi. It was now an Igbo government. The Igbos in the north were now openly taunting the northerners, insulting their dead leaders and daring them to do something about it. Meanwhile, the northern army officers were also feeling betrayed because, apparently it was part of their agreement that all political leaders would be killed. However, as the Igbos have turned their original plan to cleanse the country into an Igbo coup, they too started planning their revenge coup. They overthrew and killed Ironsi and installed Gowon. Now that the government had returned to the north, the people of the north decided to have their own back for all the insults that the Igbos have been heaping on them, hence the pogroms. Having seen that their attempts to rule the country have all failed, they started dreaming up Biafran. Again in this, they failed to take into consideration the wishes of the eastern minorities who were not consulted in anyway. These are people who have been agitating for freedom from igbo domination for years (even before the movement for the creation of the Mid-west) with their demand for C-O-R (Calabar Ogoja Rivers) state or region. The Igbos had been at the forefront of the movement to create Mid-week region from the western region to reduce the areas of influence of the Yorubas, but would hear nothing of a similar thing being done in their 'territory'. So of course on the eve of the war, all Gowon needed to do to win the support of the eastern minorities was to give them their long sort for states (South Eastern and Rivers States). This masterstroke sowed the death knell which ultimately led to the collapse of Biafra.

    ReplyDelete
  73. If this is true , then ibos are not to be trusted .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You didn't read the part where your people also betrayed the Igbo??

      Or you do selective reading??

      Delete
    2. Sunshine was it not you who came the other day to say the yorubas were intelligent and we're schooled first??

      How come almost all write up says the igbos were more in civil service because of their advantage to education??

      Delete
    3. Sunshine you are the most tribalistic person on this blog. So keep the story about having friends from Anambra..

      Delete
    4. The two tribes betrayed themselves at one point or the other.Whatever the case, war is bad and I cannot subscribe to it but if the ibos wants to go pls let them go without war.
      United we fall ,divided we stand.Chikena !

      Delete
  74. Keep distorting the truth @ BonaParte NN to make yourself happy or justified, you really are in denial and that is the problem with a lot of Igbo people. If you had apologized and tried to make amends for your mistakes and what your people started in Nigeria, we will not still be where we are today. But you play the victim and think you are better and smarter than all other tribes in Nigeria, instead of you to be tolerant and try to live in peace like other tribes in Nigeria, you can't because you think you are superior but where has it gotten you so far, no where and it will get you no where.
    If Hausa people were not tolerant or accommodating people there will be no way in hell that Igbo people would be able to settle down and live in the North in the first place but as usual anywhere the Igbos go they want to take over the land and are insulting and ungrateful to their hosts. You people have no respect for yourselves so how can you have respect for others. No tribe in Nigeria trusts you because they have seen you for what you really are. You better change your ways, you have a very bad history but you can have a better future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you not just foolish??

      What do you mean by if the hausas weren't accommodating??

      Are they suppose to be accommodating when it's a one Nigeria?? Aren't people suppose to live freely any where?? It's you lot that makes the country as it is. You need to be wiped out so you don't pass your stupidity to another generation honestly.

      Because if everyone is fighting for one Nigeria, you will know one can live any where and do business any where and live comfortably without the northerners or westerners thinking someone has come to take over their land

      I'm yoruba but when I hear people been tribalistic I wonder your background of education.

      Delete
    2. If you say we're superior then thank you I believe we're! Just get used to the idea I think your heart ache will reduce. If Igbos taunted the Hausa leaders after the killing why didn't the Hausa people also taunt them back after their own coup? Isn't that retaliation? Why the sudden killing? Conclusion: Jealousy, they were more educated, and in the civil service! Eye opener.
      Note: not ready for an war abeg! Only Enugu has good roads, there are no jobs in Nigeria as a whole not to talk of in the east, Nigerians are very tribalistic as a whole if this biafran thing happens it won't change anything as you'll see governors sacking people who are not from their states (as some have already done), just to mention but a few

      Delete
  75. Start another war @anon 21:30, we shall see who will starve and die again in millions. Everybody in this world is against the Igbos including the British, Russians and Arabs, even if it is true, don't you think it's time you begin to ask yourselves why everybody is against you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lmao

      I'm not I'm support of another war but do you think igbos wouldn't have known better than to let starvation kill them??

      I guess you didn't know during the way the British first came to ojukwu for help but he turned them down because he was been idealistic and he knew they were after oil. When he turned them down, they went to the Nigerian side and collided with them because of oil hence the win

      You think the UK are not for Biafran now?? Think again. That means you don't know how far kanu has gone.


      Let us just pray for war not to come

      I think what should be carried out is a referendum.

      And who are those saying adekunle helped ironsi?? I hope it'd not the the same adekunke that was busy raping women and children and bringing them out in masses to kill??

      Probably there were many adekunle

      Because of all the books I read both written by Nigerians And non Nigerians he was busy helping awolowo to stop food from entering biafra and raping women



      My question is when the igbos left to their place and they declared biafra?? Why was it so much pain for the Nigerians??

      Even after capturing portharcourt where there was oil, why didn't they just leave the igbos alone to fend for themselves?? Why was it a bother for them to see igbos back to Nigeria?? Why??

      Because at the oils States were first captured by the Nigerian sides immediately they got help from the British so why didn't they just put a border asking the Biafrans not to step over?? And if they do they kill them??


      Why go thru all the stress of killing them in hunger.. Massive genocide

      And hope they know starvation in war is a war crime and no one was punished for that. This alone is enough to make the igbos angry..

      What about the genocide?? Isn't this another reason..


      Someone above said igbos should apologize for what??

      They planned a coup with others and later carried it out differently. Another counter coup came about and over 30000 igbos were killed after the counter coup because of the first coup. Wasn't that vengeance enough??

      Why take it out to genocide and starvation


      It can't be swept under the carpet is the truth until issues are resolved

      Delete
  76. Sunshine I'm the anon who quoted wikipedia

    Most people have told their version and it isn't far from what Wikipedia has

    Besides I have read there was a country, toads of war, survive the peace, brothers war, emeka.. 2 of this books weren't written by Nigerians

    And there story tallies with Wikipedia

    And I'm not igbo, I'm from a minority tribe in Nigeria..

    My project was based on this on which I excelled hence my vast knowledge for biafra and leading the books I read

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  77. Kokoro inu Itan yi in pe, they started the problem out of their greed. People should think deeply, same way Ojukwu ran away with his family, Kanu's family is in UK and he will surely escape when the way becomes unbearable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ojukwu didn't leave when the war was unbearable. He left 3 days before surrender

      Delete
  78. BonaParte,

    Ojukwu did not release Awolowo, Gowon did. Also, Adekunle Fajuyi died in 1966, when he hosted Ironsi and refused to turn him over to be killed, but rather chose to be killed with Ironsi, so which Adekunle massacred women and children after the war ended in 1970?

    I wonder where you got your own story from, stop trying to rewrite history.

    ReplyDelete
  79. BonaParte,

    Akintola did not escape, he was killed with Tafawa Balewa, and Ahmadu Bello.

    Adekunle was killed trying to protect Ironsi.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please can you tell me the book were you read that?? I'll like to read this book because in all books I have read it wasn't stated this way

      Thanks

      Delete
  80. Who gives a fuck if Igbo people starved in the Biafran war. If you cannot handle war then dont start one. For those who says Yoruba betrayed them, Yoruba made decisions that was best for the Yoruba tribe. The Igbos were looking for a tribe that will die with them and Yoruba was not ready to die for any tribe, it is that simple.
    The way you are looking for the south south and Delta people to join you in this your current Biafra nonsense was the same way you wanted the Yoruba people to join you against the Hausa's because the Yoruba tribe is a major tribe in Nigeria but Yoruba people said they are not joining you to fight against Nigeria and other tribes go and die on your own. Then Igbos now play the victim and turn around and say Yoruba betrayed them. Wetin concern Yoruba with Igbo are they family?
    Why can't the Igbos fight their war on their own, why do they always want to include other tribes in their war. If you want to die, go and die on your own and stop dragging others in to your greedy agenda. Now you want to drag people of the south south and niger delta into this one to die with you the same way you tried to drag Yorubas in to die with you. If south south and niger delta don't want anything to do with your agenda, you will say they betrayed the Igbos.
    Fight your battles alone so that you can die alone. No one gives a damn.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you o. We deltans don't want anything to do with the Igbos, their crazy ass Biafra, and their stupid wat. You'd think they would have learned by now that war is no joke, but no. As of there aren't enough problems in the world already. I agree with this Anon, if y'all wanna die for a senseless cause, by all means go ahead but leave us the fuck alone! Fight your battles alone, bunch of selfish an d greedy people.

      Delete
  81. What is the history of the Ibos before biafra. Nigerians know the history of the Hausa and their empires, they know the history of the Yoruba and their empires, they know the history of the Benin empire with names, places and dates. All these people know who their cousins are who form and are now part of other countries. Who are the Ibos and where did they come from.

    It seems the ibos dont have any history before the biafran war. If anyone knows the history of the ibos they should please school us. Did they have an empire, who are their founding fathers, what are their roots. As mentioned above the Hausa, Yoruba and Benin people know their roots and it is all documented. ibos should tell us about their roots.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sweetie, if you read well you will know the igbos were doing very well. We occupied 70% of civil service. We didn't have authoritative government like the north and West were you report to one person. Everybody was involved in decision making and that helped us gain education faster and deep rooted in government

      The northerners were illiterate and felt they should not be left out hence their born to rule syndrome.. For you yorubas, you go were you are pushed. You can't make decisions yourself until someone else comes to make it for you


      I ask a question, the hausas contribute thru agriculture

      Igbos thru their vast knowledge for trade and all which brings about business opportunity and jobs

      What do the yorubas bring to the table??

      Honest question

      Delete
  82. Anon 22:54 stop getting ahead of yourself and making yourself look stupid because you want to get one ahead of Sunshine. You said it yourself that almost all the write up says the Igbos were more in civil service because of their advantage to education.

    Civil service, nothing more. Is civil service the only sector in the whole of Nigeria? so because educated Igbos were in the civil service alone you challenge Sunshine that you claim said the Yorubas were intelligent and we're schooled first?.

    You see how you people are?, very petty and quick to make assumptions and jump into conclusion because you think you are superior to all. Just because Igbos were just educated enough to work in civil service you think they are more intelligent and schooled first. Yoruba's were the doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects, bankers, pilots etc., they held down all professional jobs and positions.

    I pity you because you cannot compare the two and this is what is killing Igbos. They give you a yard, you take a mile.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. On a lighter note, we were also ahead in business.

      We know funds from doctors, lawyers, engineers don't sustain the economy..

      We were dark good in business and still is

      Get over the hate.

      Delete
    2. Anon 9:11, get over your stupidity. It's the truth.

      Delete
  83. You cannot decide what retaliation people choose to take, Hausa's retaliated the way they wanted to. If you cannot take retaliation don't start a war.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please go and read your history

      You will know before independence the northerners have had about 3 crisis which led to the massive slaughter of the igbos

      And this was before the civil war.

      Don't come on post and show your dumb self. Read before making comments it helps

      1953-1958 there was 3 riots in the north which led to killing of igbos.

      This led to the moving forward of independence death from 1957 to 1960

      Delete
    2. I tire for these people. Don't start what you can't finish. See them crying they were starved et al. That is what you get in war. Were you expecting the Nigerian side to feed you, the Igbos? If the reverse was the case, would u on Igbos have fed the Nigerians? That's all in the past and it's sad that such a thing happened. No matter what, I'm not in support of war cos we'll all suffer. It's not a good thing and what one should pray for. The people instigating this are not in the country but you fools are championing the cause, knowing fully well its you and yours here that will face the consequences.
      Like an anon said, if you Igbos wanna die, suit yourselves but leave other tribes out of your madness.
      Bunch of selfish idiots.

      Delete
  84. So many mistakes! All in the past.
    1.Nzeogwu should not have done, what he did. Even if he thought the politicians were corrupt why kill them so brutally
    2.Ironsi should have sentenced Nzeogwu to death, practically offer his head as a sacrifice to the north
    3.The massacres can never be justified, the government should have been more proactive in protecting the igbos
    4.Ojukwu shouldn't have let pride and ego into the war,he should have surrendered long before he did.

    ReplyDelete
  85. @Sunshine what is paining u exactly. Everything anon said was true. He got it from wikipedia. When u gather all the sources its d same story. It TRULY SHOWS the character of the igbo man. Very greedy and treacherous.

    1) In 1960, awolowo wanted the whole south (AG & NCNC) to form an alliance against d north (NPC) cos d northerners were more in parliament, Azikiwe decided to go with the north & hopefully ride d 'dumb' northerners. Once NPC & NCNC formed an alliance, they wrestled power from awolowo bcos awolowo kept having clashes with the central government. Ladoke akintola (ahmadu bellos friend) was made the southwest premier by the central government. Awolowo was carted to prison.

    2) In january 1966, kaduna nzeogwu and his cohorts of 9 igbo officers and 1 mugun yoruba man, carried out a coup, u should read d details of dt coup,how river niger & benue were blocked and d detail of each kill on dt bloody night. MIRACULOUSLY the president azikiwe was on a prolonged meeting abroad(i laugh). Also, d eastern premier was spared. 11 leaders were killed from d North & SW. None was igbo. After the killings, the remaining cabinet was called, the acting president (Nwafor Orizu - another igbo man) made a national broadcast after speaking with nnamdi azikiwe on the phone, transferring power to the military (Aguiyi Ironsi - an igbo man). Aguiyi Ironsi did another national broadcast accepting the invitation. After Ironsi became president, he NEVER arrested any of d coup plotters.

    I SWEAR THEY REALLY TOOK THE WHOLE COUNTRY FOR FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!


    It was a great backstabbing, cowardly and bold betrayal like d country had NEVER seen. This was also considering the fact that the IGBOS&HAUSA were in an alliance together.
    The 'schadenfreude' displayed by igbos after d deaths led to the pogrom in the north. Their great king was dead. And pple were mocking it. The yorubas could care less cos they had no strong affection for akintola but pple were disgusted by Ademuleguns pregnant wife who was killed by d coup plotters.

    The pogroms led to the calls for biafra and led to the NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR.

    PS - To all the brainwashed revisionists here, gowon d christian hausa man released Awolowo from prison. Ironsi didnt do it in d 3months he was president & ojukwu was his eastern premier. Awolowo went from prison to the govt house as finance minister. THESE ARE THE FACTS!!! The igbos were just pained because they expected awolowo to side them and not gowon. WTF did d igbos ever do to help Awo? Nothing!Just like today THEY PROUDLY EXPECT d rest of d south to side them & anyone dissenting is called a betrayer & insulted. Also Awolowo DID NOT institute starvation as a weapon of war. His brilliant stroke of genius was changing d currency.

    The commanding officer dt didnt allow food aid into the eastern region was "black scorpion" benjamin adekunle. His interviews are online. NOT DT FAKE ONE UP THERE. Do u know what biafran troops were doing in d midwest before adekunle got there??? His reasoning made sense. Why feed d enemy killing my officers? Let them feed themselves. Also to d confused soul mistaking names, Adekunle Fajuyi was hosting ironsi when d northern coup took place. He sacrificed his life & said they should kill him and not the president.

    ReplyDelete
  86. @Sunshine what is paining u exactly. Everything anon said was true. He got it from wikipedia. When u gather all the sources its d same story. It TRULY SHOWS the character of the igbo man. Very greedy and treacherous.

    1) In 1960, awolowo wanted the whole south (AG & NCNC) to form an alliance against d north (NPC) cos d northerners were more in parliament, Azikiwe decided to go with the north & hopefully ride d 'dumb' northerners. Once NPC & NCNC formed an alliance, they wrestled power from awolowo bcos awolowo kept having clashes with the central government. Ladoke akintola (ahmadu bellos friend) was made the southwest premier by the central government. Awolowo was carted to prison.

    2) In january 1966, kaduna nzeogwu and his cohorts of 9 igbo officers and 1 mugun yoruba man, carried out a coup, u should read d details of dt coup,how river niger & benue were blocked and d detail of each kill on dt bloody night. MIRACULOUSLY the president azikiwe was on a prolonged meeting abroad(i laugh). Also, d eastern premier was spared. 11 leaders were killed from d North & SW. None was igbo. After the killings, the remaining cabinet was called, the acting president (Nwafor Orizu - another igbo man) made a national broadcast after speaking with nnamdi azikiwe on the phone, transferring power to the military (Aguiyi Ironsi - an igbo man). Aguiyi Ironsi did another national broadcast accepting the invitation. After Ironsi became president, he NEVER arrested any of d coup plotters.

    I SWEAR THEY REALLY TOOK THE WHOLE COUNTRY FOR FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!


    It was a great backstabbing, cowardly and bold betrayal like d country had NEVER seen. This was also considering the fact that the IGBOS&HAUSA were in an alliance together.
    The 'schadenfreude' displayed by igbos after d deaths led to the pogrom in the north. Their great king was dead. And pple were mocking it. The yorubas could care less cos they had no strong affection for akintola but pple were disgusted by Ademuleguns pregnant wife who was killed by d coup plotters.

    The pogroms led to the calls for biafra and led to the NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR.

    PS - To all the brainwashed revisionists here, gowon d christian hausa man released Awolowo from prison. Ironsi didnt do it in d 3months he was president & ojukwu was his eastern premier. Awolowo went from prison to the govt house as finance minister. THESE ARE THE FACTS!!! The igbos were just pained because they expected awolowo to side them and not gowon. WTF did d igbos ever do to help Awo? Nothing!Just like today THEY PROUDLY EXPECT d rest of d south to side them & anyone dissenting is called a betrayer & insulted. Also Awolowo DID NOT institute starvation as a weapon of war. His brilliant stroke of genius was changing d currency.

    The commanding officer dt didnt allow food aid into the eastern region was "black scorpion" benjamin adekunle. His interviews are online. NOT DT FAKE ONE UP THERE. Do u know what biafran troops were doing in d midwest before adekunle got there??? His reasoning made sense. Why feed d enemy killing my officers? Let them feed themselves. Also to d confused soul mistaking names, Adekunle Fajuyi was hosting ironsi when d northern coup took place. He sacrificed his life & said they should kill him and not the president.

    ReplyDelete
  87. QUESTIONS PEOPLE SHOULD ASK THEMSELVES

    Why did igbos plan d coup when they were already partners in government?
    Why were the igbos gloating about superiority to make their point to hausas?
    Why would market pple be jubilating and taunting pple for murder in d victims land?
    Why did ironsi immediately change d govt, from regionalization into unitary?
    Why did ojukwu ask for a confederation?
    Why did ojukwu trespass the blockades in porthacourt?
    After getting rivers as part of biafra, why didnt he stop & defend his new borders?
    Why did ojukwu march into the midwest?
    Was the midwest part of the old eastern region?
    Why did ojukwu lie that he was going to get weapons instead of fleeing?
    Who flees from what they believe in, after sacrificing so many lives?

    None of the answers to these questions are justifiable. Anybody dt expected they would get an ally out of any other nigerian tribe whilst taking all these actions (without consulting wt any other tribe while taking it) is seriously deluded. And then expect others to just do followfollow and support nonsense.LIVING IN A LAND OF DELUSIONS!!!!


    ReplyDelete
  88. A BIAFRAN CITIZENS STORY FROM THE VANGUARD COMMENT SECTION (PART 1)


    An Independent Biafra (of the South-East) would be the worst place on earth for anybody to live in.

    Any sensible and decent Igbo Man or Woman, Boy or Girl, who saw what obtained inside Biafra (1967-1970) as well as the lifestyle that has prevailed in Igboland till date, and who has lived in other parts of Nigeria or abroad, would swear never to be ruled or led by any Igbo Man on this planet,
    Quote Me!

    If in doubt, as we speak; just make an attempt to build a house and hire an Igbo Builder or Labor, then, watch and see what he or she would do. The ear that hears it, will tingle.

    Start a Business and hire an Igbo man or woman, then, watch and see what would happen.

    It is in my Igboland that a Bag of Cement from Nkalagu would be diverted and re-bagged overnight to 2/3 of the original quantity and put back in the Market to sell at even a higher price.

    It is in my Igboland that somebody would have Malaria or complain of Cough and the Doctor would quickly do Surgery (Appendectomy) just to collect more money. And, the Doctor even has Agents that lure and deceive the Patients into believing that their Cough was as a result of Appendicitis. NO KIDDING!

    It is in my Igboland that as you are watching a Trader measure Garri with Cigarette Cup, once your eyes veer away for just a second, he or she instantly uses the back of the Cigarette Cup. Get home and recheck the Garri, if you had paid for 10 Cigarette Cups, you would be lucky to have up to 6 Cups.

    Use any of the Highways in the South-East at night, your tires would burst as you run into sharp Metal Objects set as traps along the Highway. As soon as you come-out to change tire, about 10 to 20 young men would highlight from the bush and rob the hell out of you under Gun Point. That's the order of the day in my Igboland that wants Independence.

    It was Igbo Officers that would go into Battle during the Biafra Civil War and, within the first 2 minutes, shoot themselves in the palm and ask to be taken away as wounded Soldiers. The Family members would actually lay in wait, somewhere, to observe his exit from the Battle Front, then go into celebration. That's how the majority of my Igbo Military Officers fought the Biafra War. The outcome is now History.

    ReplyDelete
  89. A BIAFRAN CITIZENS STORY CULLED FROM VANGUARD COMMENT SECTION (PART 2)


    Ask people who were there during the War, the Igbo Officers were taking food, houses, Vehicles, etc from the Civilians by FORCE. Biafran Army Officers were even taking Girls and People's Wives by FORCE. NO KIDDING! You either Shut-up or his Bullet Shuts you up.

    On January 10, 1970, Ojukwu told the Igbos in Biafra that he was going to China to buy Weapons for Biafra. That's the sincerity of the Igbo (Biafran) Leader to his people that he led. And, Ojukwu fled, while some of his Biafran Soldiers were still at the War Fronts engaging the Federal Troops with virtually bare hands and Dying in their large Numbers.

    If Ojukwu could tell a lie to deceive the Igbos he led in Biafra, only God knows what the Nnamdi Kanus and the Uwazurikes of IPOB and MASSOB would do to their fellow Igbos when the chips are down.

    I, as an Igboman, have traveled far and wide, and, in the process, came to learn NEVER TO TRUST ANY IGBO MAN OR WOMAN ON THIS PLANET; and WHEN ENGAGING YOUR FELLOW IGBO MAN IN ANYTHING ON THIS PLANET, MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU USE A VERY VERY LONG SPOON.

    I have not seen a Tribe on this Planet that is as disruptive, destructive and deadly, even to itself and folks, as the Igbo Tribe.

    Recall that of all the African Tribes, and indeed, of all the Tribes on this Planet, it was only in my Igbo Tribe that a Traditional Ruler, took Bribe, connived with the Europeans and dug an underground Trench right from his Palace in Arochukwu in Abia State to James Town in the Creeks of Akwa-Ibom State, and was selling his Igbo People into Slavery, using his Traditional Deity as Camouflage, in what was referred to as the Long Juju.

    If Igbo Traditional Ruler could sell his people for money then, only God knows whether the Nnamdi Kanus and the Uwazurikes of IPOB and MASSOB have not already sold the Igbos and collected money.

    It is important to tell the truth, and tell it as it is; no matter how bitter it may sound. Only in the Truth can anybody find the Real Freedom.
    Quote Me!

    Very Innocent Igbo Men and Women out there, may not know that what actually gave them freedom was the defeat of Biafra.

    And, other Nigerian Tribes may also not even realize that defeating Biafra and keeping the Igbos in Nigeria was their grave mistake of the 20th Century.

    Without the Igboman, Today's Nigerian Economy and Currency Exchange Rate would have been much better than what the then enviable Nigerian Economy was during and immediately after the Civil War.

    Recall that Nigeria never borrowed a single Dime to prosecute the Civil War Successfully, and life was normal inside Nigeria and inside the parts of Biafra liberated by the Nigerian Troops throughout the period of the War.

    Would it then be just only a coincidence that the Nigerian Economy has trended increasingly down hill with the increasing participation of the Igboman in the Nigeria Affairs from 1970 to date?

    Recall that when Biafran Troops invade and Liberated the Midwestern Region at the very onset of the War in August 1967, all the Igbo Traders in Onitsha also invaded the entire Midwest for LOOTING, and indeed, looted almost everything they could lay hands on. Colonel Ejoor, the Midwest Governor who was initially loyal to Biafra, fled on Bicycle to Lagos and pleaded with Gowon for help. What eventually ended the looting of the Midwest, was the Federal Troops. NO KIDDING! And, by October 5, 1967, Onitsha Fell to the Federal Troops.

    So, in all honesty, if a Tribe is that Deadly, would any other Tribe ever feel comfortable with such a Deadly Tribe?

    Suffice it to also observe that, apart from the small geographical region, the South-East with the few surrounding contiguous areas in Rivers and Delta States, there is no other place on this Planet where the Igbo Tribe or Language can be located, quite unlike other Tribes.

    ReplyDelete
  90. A BIAFRAN CITIZENS STORY CULLED FROM VANGUARD COMMENT SECTION (PART 3)


    So, the other question is; how and where did this my Deadly Igbo Tribe come about, and restricted to just that small enclave only?

    The only people on this Planet that I have seen behave and live like our Igbos, and are as lacking in a sense of direction as the Igbos, is the African Americans in the USA. And, it is not a coincidence; courtesy, the Chukwu of Arochukwu Long Juju.

    MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, I'M A FULL FLEDGED IGBO MAN.

    I am only being honest to myself and to my fellow Igbo Men. And, all I have stated here is as they happened or have continued to happen. No Exaggeration.

    If all I have stated here did not or has never happened, let anybody controvert and cite evidence to the contrary.

    Lastly, and Importantly, from what I have grown to see and observe of my Igbo Tribe, if any Igbo Man is unable to live with Men of other Tribes and thrive in the Country called Nigeria, that Igbo Man also would be unable to live with other Igbo Men and thrive in a Country called Biafra.
    Quote Me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pls help re-broadcast this, esp the last paragraph!

      Delete
  91. STELLA, you need to ask about what the biafran soldiers were DOING during the civil war? How did the biafrans treat the minorities during the war? The killings and impunity was crazy. You think it was for fun that the riverians started supporting the government and later claimed the igbo properties?

    The riverians were for them, until they went against them.

    The midwest governor was also supporting them in the beginning, until they invaded his towns and he ran to gowon for help.

    Even almighty Azikiwe dt was helping them ratify a UN charter got so dissapointed wt d biafran soldiers he went to talk & pray wt gowon in lagos on how to end d war. Nigerian helicopters started distributing pictures of both men together all over biafra, their troops felt betrayed and it weakened their resolve.

    This was their allies doing this. YOU NEED TO ASK WHY??? All we hear is starvation policy, as if the biafran soldiers were shooting toy bullets at nigerians. The biafran soldiers were CRAZY!Forget all this victimhood crying. The 'you must do as i say' was on another level. Not human.

    ReplyDelete
  92. Pple are so funny. Lies everywhere. 70% of the civil service were not igbos. The civil service was not one. Each region had their own. THIS WAS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THE IGBOS WANTED & GAINED FROM THEIR COUP. After ironsi became president, he scrapped regionalization for federalism (which Azikiwe always preached). The main benefit of the unified unitary government was dt there were now employment opportunities for everyone in any region, unlike before. Read this quote:

    "After unification, the then Eastern region Governor Lt. Col. Ojukwu did not help matters for the new General when, the next day after promulgation on May 24, 1966 he publicly announced in Enugu that on the basis of seniority, Igbo civil servants would be transferred to other regions and Lagos. Needless to say, he unintentionally sent shivers through the northern civil service because that region was not only educationally disadvantaged but traditionally paid the lowest salaries in the federation, automatically relegating northerners to the bottom of any unified civil service."


    It was majority of the Nigerian military that was igbos. That was why nzeogwu (and later ojukwu) had a lot of boldness. He was a teacher to most of the senior northern military officers. In fact another reason they did the coup was because senior igbo military officers were always being bypassed for the big posts in d military - in favour of the juniour northern officers - because the north was powerful. It was after the coup dt hausas flooded the military. A switch went off & they all wanted a gun. Well we saw what they did wt it.

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  93. Very big kudos to the Igbo man that wrote A BIAFRAN CITIZENS STORY FROM THE VANGUARD COMMENT SECTION. It takes a real man and a lot of guts to admit the truth and say it like it is no matter how bitter it is to swallow.

    If only other Igbos can bring themselves to admit the truth and start the process of healing so that we can all move on, but their attitude, hatred and blame of other tribes especially the Yorubas for their own undoing will not allow this to happen.

    I really hope that sooner rather than later they realize and accept their mistakes and begin to make atonement so that Nigerians can live in peace.

    ReplyDelete

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