The Abagana Ambush (March 31, 1968) was an ambush by Biafran guerrilla troops led by Major Jonathan Uchendu that wiped out the Nigerian 2 DivisionOf the 6,000 Nigerian troops ambushed, only a very small number survived, including the 2nd Division's commander, General Murtala Muhammad.
On 4 October 1967, the Nigerian 2nd Division began bombarding Onitsha and continued the assault for eight days, before a 10 boat armada crossed the Niger River into the city. The occupying Nigerians didn't pursue retreating Biafran soldiers and instead opted to loot and burn the Onitsha market to the ground. The Biafran 11th and 18th Battalions under MajorJoseph Achuzie and Col. Assam Nsudoh formed a pincer and attacked Onitsha from two directions, capturing and killing most Nigerian soldiers.
On December 1967 the Nigerian 2nd Division and the 6th Battalion crossed the Niger River at Idah and began making their way towards Onitsha, finally capturing the City after several attempts. The Nigerian Forces now intended to link up the 1st Division at Enugu with the 2nd Division at Onitsha. To this end the Nigerian 2nd Division moves out towards Enugu, in a long convoy supported by armored cars.
On the 31st day of March 1968, a convoy consisting of 106 vehicles belonging to the Nigerian 2nd Division transporting 6,000 soldiers, as well as armour from Onitsha to Enugu was ambushed and decimated in the town of Abagana by a small unit of Biafran soldiers led by Major Jonathan Uchendu.
Homemade Ogbunigwe rocket missiles were launched by the Biafrans at a tanker truck carrying gasoline which caused an enormous explosion destroying many of the convoy's armoured vehicles and killing a large number of Nigerian troops. 350 tons of Nigerian Army equipment were destroyed or captured by the Biafran troops. After the rocket attack the Biafran soldiers opened fire on the convoy with small arms fire killing many more Nigerian soldiers.
The successful ambush at Abagana gave both Biafran soldiers and civilians hope in the war as well as temporarily halting the Nigerian advance into Biafran territory. General Murtala Mohammed was relieved of his command and never commanded a division again.
In his own words, Uchendu said the sight of the convoy almost paralyzed his troops. His boys were so anxious to start firing, more out of panic than anything else. He asked them to remain calm until he gave the command. He allowed many of the Nigerian 2 Div. convoy pass through. His boys were shocked why he would allow them go through into Biafran held zone. They were nervous, suspicious, yet they trusted he military gallantry and so awaited to know his strategy. He said they concluded that the war was over, but as brave soldiers, they must fight to the last!
As he was guiding the soldier (I think a Sergeant) with the rocket launcher on what to do to the invading convoy and when best to strike, the soldier nervously and accidentally pressed the trigger, letting go the rocket! Luckily, he hit a target - a fuel Tanker! The Tanker exploded and threw its contents onto a nearby Armour carrier setting everything ablaze. The multiple explosion commenced!
In panic, soldiers who already crossed over into Biafran line ran in different directions in total confusion. Biafran soldiers attacked. They radioed the regular troops and they joined in the attack. When Uchendu learnt that Muritala Mohammed was with the Convoy and somewhere in Nawfia, he set off hurriedly to capture him but was late as Muritala was sighted taking off with a Helicopter!

After this ambush, who won the war Rather than letting sleeping dogs lay, you come on this platform to brag about one single battle that was eventually lost by the Biafran rebels!!! I advise we look forward and stop this nonsense

sammyj:
After this ambush, who won the war

Britain won the war of course!

It was indeed a deadly civil war in which several lives were lost. My Grandma's only son was tricked to join the army by my uncle, (now late)because they were paying those who were willing to join the Nigerian army handsomely that time. My uncle died in that war.

At times when the igbos come online to lament killings of their people, they always fail to realise the fact that people from other tribes too like yoruba died in millions in that needless war.

won a battle..... lost the war.

Fake news.

Ogbunigwe decimated 7000 soldiers. One of the commanders in that war is still alive. He is a bishop in one of the biggest churches in Umunya, Anambra.

His son once contested as Governor of Anambra under APGA but couldn't get the ticket.

fairfora:
It was indeed a deadly civil war in which several lives were lost. My Grandma's only son was tricked to join the army by my uncle, (now late)because they were paying those who were willing to join the Nigerian army handsomely that time. My uncle died in that war.

At times when the igbos come online to lament killings of their people, they always fail to realise the fact that people from other tribes too like yoruba died in millions in that needless war.

Benue alone has about 500,000 war widows. Imagine the number of those that died without a wife.

illicit:
won a battle..... lost the war.

Thank you masters UK, Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

IamAtikulate:

Benue alone has about 500,000 war widows. Imagine the number of those that died without a wife.

sad

And what was the overall results..

I am beginning to doubt if the op is an Igbo..

He always post anything to make others hate Igbo's

Half of his thread and comments are hidden my mods cos it's full of bigotry

IamAtikulate:

Thank you masters UK, Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

exactly, some descendants of sophisticated maroon will come here to chestbeat how they won the war, Cowards!

Nigeria will never recover from what Biafra did to it.

helinues:
And what was the overall results..

I am beginning to doubt if the op is an Igbo..

He always post anything to make others hate Igbo's

Half of his thread and comments are hidden my mods cos it's full of bigotry

says a pained Yoruba Muslim. More painment to your ewedu Muslim skull.

Ok

Frankdoz8:
Britain won the war of course!

brilliantly stated

illicit:
won a battle..... lost the war.

Can yorubas defeat any of the minority tribe in nigeria.if
there is any just mention it here.

Talk more of fighting the whole nigeria with it foreign support.

illicit:
won a battle..... lost the war.

lost the war to your masters britain

Fights For Liberation Without Propulsive Results Can Be Tormenting Ehn... Especially One That Involved rejection and betrayals by the south-south people, contrariety by yorubas at ore, bombardment of onitsha bridge which resulted to famine(gave rise to cannibalism) and the Annihilation Of Almost 5million People From The Surface Of The Earth, just like that . Otherwise how do you explain clutching at straws after over 50yrs? Yakubu Gowon Brutally Fvcked The Anus Of A Certain Pple And Deserves A National Honour

goodnessme1:
Can yorubas defeat any of the minority tribe in nigeria.if
there is any just mention it here.

Talk more of fighting the whole nigeria with it foreign support.

we understand what fighting a lost war means, that's why we neither start nor fight one....
and if one should occur spontaneously, we know how to chose sides....
try it..... it always work

I am tired with this your stories of past lost battle .Don't take anything past unfortunate to my side .I always like to move with people of present and future .are you crazy niiiiii ? Yet you couldn't face ordinary Python that wanted to dance for you through Bubu directive .you are crazy for unable to lay ambush for Buhari pythons.pls don't tell me nonsense .

BIAFRA IS DONE AND DUSTED

NEVER GOING TO ARISE AGAIN

PERIOD

illicit:
won a battle..... lost the war.

Just like robb stark who won several major battles and lost the war to the lannisters

illicit:

we understand what fighting a lost wat means, that's why we don't start nor fight one....
and if one occurs spontaneously, we know how to chose sides....
try it..... it always works

And you lost kwara to fulanis.

goodnessme1:
And you lost kwara to fulanis.

that was the Oyo empire.... am from Ekiti

illicit:
that was the Oyo empire.... am from Ekiti

Ok. Oyo people are not yoruba.

goodnessme1:
Ok. Oyo people are not yoruba.

ofcourse they are... but that was their war, not mine, it wasn't a Yoruba war, it was an Oyo empire war, a war between an alaafin and his chief which a Fulani man decided to take side for his own gain.... maybe you can get the difference

Frankdoz8:
Britain won the war of course!

By sending their armies to the battlefield Abi. Just like the ones we do see online from France, Belgium, south Africaon the battlefield with biafran armies. Only sore loser thinks like you.

Frankdoz8:
exactly, some descendants of sophisticated maroon will come here to chestbeat how they won the war, Cowards!

So Mr osu, you couldn't thank France, south Africa, Portugal, Belgium all cos you lost woefully. If so, then why did your fathers not start another war since then just to proof to us that you fought alone.

I tell people that 70% of those who lost their lives on Biafran side were women and children. On the other hand, 100% of those killed on Nigerian side were soldiers.

Biafra will never again succumb to the antics of the enemy, never again.

Odkosh:
So Mr osu, you couldn't thank France, south Africa, Portugal, Belgium all cos you lost woefully. If so, then why did your fathers not start another war since then just to proof to us that you fought alone.

Afonja dunce the only country from that list that supplied Biafra with weapons was France, and even at that the supplies weren't even 1/10th of what Nigeria got in armada of limitless supplies from the likes of Britain and Russia... As a matter of fact Biafra only started getting weapons from France late into 1968, prior to that the Biafran military had to largely rely on weapons patented by Biafrans like Ogbunigwe, and weapons captured from the Nigerian side in battle. South Africa, Portugal, Belgium NEVER militarily supported Biafra, as a matter of fact only few mercenaries from those countries ever fought with Biafra, and they didn't last long in service due to acute shortage of weapons... the only mercenaries that stayed and fought with Biafrans till the last were Major Taffy Williams (a South African), and a Swede pilot called Carl Gustaf Von Rosen.

And Igbos don't need to start another war, we're far too invested in bettering ourselves and dominating you on your own turfs in nearly all indices of achievement than worry about a country that will sooner or later self-implode anyways. You take pride in the idiotic notion that Igbos "lost woefully", yeah maybe we lost more in civilian numbers(women and children) ... but undiluted stats show you lost far more man in the battle where true bravery availed itself. Many years later your region can NEVER beat the Igbos on any fair ground or index of achievements despite your people not seeing or feeling the heat of the war... so who's really the biggest loser?

If dem say make una brush up your knowledge by reading extensively about the civil war una no go gree read, except by amplifying your already infectious ignorance with the trash you're been fed on Nairaland by uninformed morons SMH.

illicit:

ofcourse they are... but that was their war, not mine, it wasn't a Yoruba war, it was an Oyo empire war, a war between an alaafin and his chief which a Fulani man decided to take side for his own gain.... maybe you can get the difference

Why didn't Oyo yorubas use the same strategist you suggested.

Frankdoz8:
Britain won the war of course!

Igbo amaka