Today in History: Civil war began in Nigeria
The war would last for three years, but saw an eventual victory for the Nigerian government.
Several states of Nigeria combined to form the breakaway Republic of Biafra in an attempt to gain independence from Nigerian governance.
In 1960, Nigeria gained independence from Britain. Six years later, the Muslim Hausas in northern Nigeria began massacring the Christian Igbos in the region, prompting tens of thousands of Igbos to flee to the east, where they were the dominant ethnic group.
The Igbos doubted that Nigeria’s oppressive military government would allow them to develop or even survive. So on 30 May, 1967, Lieutenant Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu and other non-Igbo representatives of the area established the Republic of Biafra, comprising several states of Nigeria.
After diplomatic efforts by Nigeria failed to reunite the country, war between Nigeria and Biafra broke out in July 1967. Only five weeks after its secession from Nigeria, the breakaway Republic of Biafra was attacked by Nigerian government forces. Ojukwu’s forces made some initial advances, but Nigeria’s superior military strength gradually reduced Biafran territory.
The state lost its oil fields – its main source of revenue – and without the funds to import food, an estimated one million of its civilians died as a result of severe malnutrition. On 11 January, 1970, Nigerian forces captured the provincial capital of Owerri, one of the last Biafran strongholds.
Ojukwu was forced to flee to the Ivory Coast. Four days later, Biafra surrendered to Nigeria.
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