OWERRI, 1969 - PART 2

Background to the Siege of Owerri

The year 1968 opened up in earnest, continuing a pattern that had been set on September 2nd 1967 when Major General Yakubu Gowon declared “total war” against Biafra in response to the Biafran invasion of the Midwestern Region/State of Nigeria. Up until that time, “Operation Unicord,“ as the federal “internal security” operation against the breakaway Biafra (Eastern region of Nigeria) was called, was described as “Police action.” Increasingly violent shooting went on side by side with increasingly cynical talking.

As the war raged, various external actors sought ways to resolve various elements of the crisis in favor of one or the other of the contending forces. These included the Commonwealth, World Council of Churches, Organization for African Unity, and various nations, among other state and non-state actors. Both Nigeria and Biafra conducted a furious war to influence international opinion by various means. Both entities send delegations abroad for this purpose as well as to shop for weapons and ammunition. For example, former Eastern Region Premier Michael Okpara and former Nigerian President Nnamdi Azikiwe were roving Biafran ambassadors to some East African and Francophone countries. In the wake of Azikiwe’s diplomatic offensive, Tanzania, Gabon, Ivory Coast and Zambia recognized Biafra. Importantly, on August 1st, General de Gaulle of France openly acknowledged already ongoing support for Biafran self-determination. But there were other pro-Biafran forces in the background. Biafra also sought and got support (of varying quantity and quality) from Israel, Portugal, Rhodesia, South Africa, the Vatican and non-state actors like Joint Church Aid, Holy Ghost Fathers of Ireland, Caritas International, MarkPress, US Catholic Relief Services, etc.

Meanwhile, federal delegations visited many other African countries to stem the tide of Biafran recognition and obtain official OAU backing, considerably enhanced by the sympathy of the OAU Consultative Committee on the Nigerian crisis. (The members of this committee, led by Emperor Selassie of Ethiopia were Cameroun, Congo Kinshasha, Ghana, Liberia and Niger). At the same time Nigeria was negotiating with countries like Belgium, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy, West Germany, Hong Kong, Spain, Poland, the USSR, and the United States for weapons and other items of military ordnance. In August, for example, Dr, Okoi Arikpo was dispatched to the USSR on what was described as a goodwill visit coming exactly one year after a “cultural pact” between both countries – negotiated by Soviet Ambassador Alexandr Romanov - had resulted in the supply of Mig-17 fighter aircraft to Nigeria. The Nigerian international shopping list in 1968 included Artillery, Armoured fighting vehicles, shells, battle rifles, rifle ammunition, machine guns, side arms, etc. In the background, peace talks were stuttering in London, Kampala, Niamey, and Addis Ababa, as international concern increased about relief for civilians caught in the fighting.

On the battlefield, however, facts were being created and recreated on the ground and in propaganda. In March, Onitsha finally fell to federal troops of the 2nd Infantry Division, after many bloody unsuccessful attempts. In April, Abakaliki was captured, followed in May by the fall of Port Harcourt to troops of the 3rd Marine Commando Division. On July 30th, an increasingly confident Colonel Benjamin Adekunle, GOC of the 3rd Marine Commando Division announced to the Press that he would capture Owerri, Aba and Umuahia (O.A.U) within two weeks. Nevertheless, it was not until August 15th, 1968, that Major General Gowon announced that the “final offensive” which would bring the war to an end would begin on August 25th. Following this announcement, Aba fell to federal forces on September 4th followed on September 16th by Owerri. But by the time Okigwe was taken on October 1st, it was evident that all was not well with the “final offensive.”


READ THE REST HERE ( IT REALLY LONG OOH)





http://www.igbolandforum.com/index.php?topic=442.0

@OP obviously not a wikileak - does not discount the quality of info - misleading title though

^^ my brother this one pass wikileaks, this na the complete, comprehensive unbiased account from people right at the font front of the war, the strategists and general

ojukwu
obj
adekunle
gowon
efok
ifejunwa
danbaba
dangote
Murtala mohammed

i warn u its long sha

T8ksy:

[s]But why do we have to register on igboland forum before we can read the full stor[/s]y?

Can't you just make it available to us here if you truly want to bring to[b] everyone's [/b] attention here.

Over my dead Body

was wiki available during biafra too?

Greenslim:

was wiki available during biafra too?

No, but US military and CIA together with FBI been dey, na there combine intelligence wikileaks dey expose to us, no be play play thing ooh.


its really really long, 10 intelligent pages, clearly written including ojukwu's blunder and Nigerian military's buffoonery. 


guys, u no wan register to view it, imagine if u were to pay for it ?

Read more of the United Staes role here.
Ist class secret letters.


http://nixon.archives.gov/forkids/edu_programing/HistoryDay2010/historyDay.php

nice one , but the above topic is more of the war font strategies and actual fight. ie war account.

macjive01:

OWERRI, 1969 - PART 2

Background to the Siege of Owerri

The year 1968 opened up in earnest, continuing a pattern that had been set on September 2nd 1967 when Major General Yakubu Gowon declared “total war” against Biafra in response to the Biafran invasion of the Midwestern Region/State of Nigeria. Up until that time, “Operation Unicord,“ as the federal “internal security” operation against the breakaway Biafra (Eastern region of Nigeria) was called, was described as “Police action.” Increasingly violent shooting went on side by side with increasingly cynical talking.

As the war raged, various external actors sought ways to resolve various elements of the crisis in favor of one or the other of the contending forces. These included the Commonwealth, World Council of Churches, Organization for African Unity, and various nations, among other state and non-state actors. Both Nigeria and Biafra conducted a furious war to influence international opinion by various means. Both entities send delegations abroad for this purpose as well as to shop for weapons and ammunition. For example, former Eastern Region Premier Michael Okpara and former Nigerian President Nnamdi Azikiwe were roving Biafran ambassadors to some East African and Francophone countries. In the wake of Azikiwe’s diplomatic offensive, Tanzania, Gabon, Ivory Coast and Zambia recognized Biafra. Importantly, on August 1st, General de Gaulle of France openly acknowledged already ongoing support for Biafran self-determination. But there were other pro-Biafran forces in the background. Biafra also sought and got support (of varying quantity and quality) from Israel, Portugal, Rhodesia, South Africa, the Vatican and non-state actors like Joint Church Aid, Holy Ghost Fathers of Ireland, Caritas International, MarkPress, US Catholic Relief Services, etc.

Meanwhile, federal delegations visited many other African countries to stem the tide of Biafran recognition and obtain official OAU backing, considerably enhanced by the sympathy of the OAU Consultative Committee on the Nigerian crisis. (The members of this committee, led by Emperor Selassie of Ethiopia were Cameroun, Congo Kinshasha, Ghana, Liberia and Niger). At the same time Nigeria was negotiating with countries like Belgium, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy, West Germany, Hong Kong, Spain, Poland, the USSR, and the United States for weapons and other items of military ordnance. In August, for example, Dr, Okoi Arikpo was dispatched to the USSR on what was described as a goodwill visit coming exactly one year after a “cultural pact” between both countries – negotiated by Soviet Ambassador Alexandr Romanov - had resulted in the supply of Mig-17 fighter aircraft to Nigeria. The Nigerian international shopping list in 1968 included Artillery, Armoured fighting vehicles, shells, battle rifles, rifle ammunition, machine guns, side arms, etc. In the background, peace talks were stuttering in London, Kampala, Niamey, and Addis Ababa, as international concern increased about relief for civilians caught in the fighting.

On the battlefield, however, facts were being created and recreated on the ground and in propaganda. In March, Onitsha finally fell to federal troops of the 2nd Infantry Division, after many bloody unsuccessful attempts. In April, Abakaliki was captured, followed in May by the fall of Port Harcourt to troops of the 3rd Marine Commando Division. On July 30th, an increasingly confident Colonel Benjamin Adekunle, GOC of the 3rd Marine Commando Division announced to the Press that he would capture Owerri, Aba and Umuahia (O.A.U) within two weeks. Nevertheless, it was not until August 15th, 1968, that Major General Gowon announced that the “final offensive” which would bring the war to an end would begin on August 25th. Following this announcement, Aba fell to federal forces on September 4th followed on September 16th by Owerri. But by the time Okigwe was taken on October 1st, it was evident that all was not well with the “final offensive.”


READ THE REST HERE ( IT REALLY LONG OOH)





http://www.igbolandforum.com/index.php?topic=442.0

The first paragraph of this essay is a lazy job padded with conjectural crap. Nigeria started military action against Biafra on July 6, 1967. And by July 26, 1967, the military offensive initiated by Nigeria saw the capture of many towns in Biafra including Ubani (Bonny) by the 3MCDO.

Biafran military foray into Midwestern region of Nigeria did not come until August 8, 1967.

All these concocted propaganda and falsehood should be exposed before undiscerning onlookers start quoting them as gospel.