On August 9,1967 the movement began.
The Biafrans crossed the Niger and occupied the Midwest capital, Benin, and the port of sapele and ugheli. By August 17,1967 they had crossed the ofusu river where the got to Oregon, in the western Region in a major advance to Ibadan and Lagos in their quest for colonisation .
Seeing the country tearing apart by the threat of civil war, Gen. Gowon declared a total war on the rebels. The federal government had just imported a lot if weapons from Britain and Russia like the :mig fighters and illyushin bummers. By September 22,1967 the federal troops reoccupied the Midwest. On October 4,1967 the Biafrans capital, enugu fell to federal troops which was soon followed by calabar Biafrans second largest port, while onitsha an DC port-harcourt were to follow in quick succession in may, 1968 making the blockade of the Biafra total.
what prompted the war
The leadership of the old eastern region came to the conclusion that they just could not continue to coexist with the rest of Nigeria, especially because of the ill treatment * itemmeted out to people of the old eastern region in the Northern part of Nigeria by northern military men, especially during the counter coup of June 1967, in which many eastern military officers were murdered.
The whole processes started with a military coup headed by Aguiyi Ironsi, a counter-coup headed by Murtala Muhammed and finally the persecution of people of Igbo extraction, especially in the northern part of Nigeria. The war was actually as a result of religious, cultural, ethnic, economical and political tension that prevailed during this period.
while the remaining biafrans big towns like aba unuahia as iweeei soon fell under the superior fire powers of the federal troops.
With the total war which gen. Gowon had declared on the Republic of Biafra and the subsequent civilian suffering ,lost of live and properties which the war had produced there were divided world opinion about the conflict ,four countries recognized Biafra -Tanzania on April 13,1968 Gabon on may 8,1968 and Zambia on may 20, 1968 ,saying their decision was printed largely by the failure of the military government to respond to appeals to settle the conflict Instead of the unnecessary blood letting, while for Biafrans recognition meant a lot to them
Up to 2 million civilians died in the course of the Biafran War on both sides, with majority of the victims coming from the Biafran side. Major causes of death were diseases and starvation. This was the same factor that led to the quick end of the war.
The world was forced to take note of happenings during the Nigerian civil war when pictures of malnourished children were circulated to the outside world in the middle part of 1968. This promoted foreign bodies and even Non-Government Organizations to rise up and raise funds towards providing for the Biafran starving populace.
While the war of madness reef on between the federal government of Nigeria and the break-away Biafra state, attempts were made by the O. A. U and the international community brings about a negotiated settlement of the dispute. At the peace meeting in kinshasha in September 1968 the convener organizations of African union O. A. U, the principal of one Nigerian was stucked to and a consultative peace committee could only achieve very little or nothing at all partly due to the feacby African leaders that is Biafra was allowed to seceed, it would Trigger secessionist In other African countries. Both side repeatedly proclaimed their readiness to negotiate without pr e conditions but attached different interpretations to that tearms to Nigerians it meant negotiating in accordance with the O. A. U. resolution which is aimed at keeping Nigerians one. While to the Biafrans, it means respecting the status quo defacto acccetance of their sovereignty.
After two and a half years the war came to and end on January 12.1970 hen the rebel forces laid down their arms. The first sign of the end was seen when ojukwu escaped from The East central state on January 11,1970 .
On the 12-01-1970 radio Biafra broadcasted the following announcement made by Col.Philip Effiong
I Col.Philip Effiong ,office administrating the government of the Republic of Biafra, now wish to make the following declaration
That were loyal citizens of Nigeria and accept the authority of the federal military government of Nigeria.
That we accept the existing administrative and political structure of the federal government of Nigeria
That any future constitutional arrangements will be worked out by representative of the people of Nigeria.
That the republic of Biafra ceases to exist
And later the documents of surrender was brought to Lagos and tendered to gen Gowon at a ceremony held in DOLAN barracks, Lagos on Jan 15,1970
Reference
#www.gistmania.com/talk/topic,85263.0.html #Nigeria will survive (1978)chike uche
The Biafran war in review | Ecency
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