The Abagana Ambush (March 31, 1968) was an ambush by Biafran guerrilla troops led by Major Jonathan Uchendu that wiped out the Nigerian 2 Division.[9] Of the 6,000 Nigerian troops ambushed, only a very small number survived, including the 2nd Division's commander, General Murtala Muhammed.

Abagana Ambush
Part of Biafran War
Abagana Ambush is located in NigeriaAbaganaAbagana
Abagana Ambush (Nigeria)
Date 31 March 1968
Location
Abagana, Nigeria
Result Decisive Biafran victory
Belligerents
Nigeria
Biafra
Commanders and leaders
Nigeria Murtala Muhammed
Biafra Jonathan Uchendu[nb 1]
Strength
6,000 soldiers
106 vehicles
700 soldiers
Casualties and losses
5,800-5,900

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 Major Joseph Achuzie and Col. Assam Nsudoh formed a pincer and attacked Onitsha from two directions, capturing and killing most Nigerian soldiers.

In 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 moved out towards Enugu, in a long convoy supported by armored cars, on the 31st day of March 1968.

On 31 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.[10] 350 tons of Nigerian Army equipment were destroyed or captured by the Biafran troops.[7][5] 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 Muhammed was relieved of his command and never commanded a division again.[7][10]

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 much of the Nigerian 2 Division convoy to pass through. His boys were shocked why he would allow them go through into the Biafran held zone. They were nervous and suspicious, yet they trusted his 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 with the rocket launcher on what to do to the invading convoy and when best to strike, the soldier accidentally pressed the trigger, letting go of the rocket. Luckily, he hit a fuel tanker. The tanker exploded and threw its contents onto a nearby armour carrier setting everything ablaze, causing multiple explosions.

In panic, soldiers who already crossed over into the Biafran line ran in different directions in total confusion. The Biafran soldiers attacked. They radioed the regular troops and they joined in the attack. When Uchendu learned that Muritala Muhammed 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.

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 Major Joseph Achuzie and Col. Assam Nsudoh formed a pincer and attacked Onitsha from two directions, capturing and killing most Nigerian soldiers.

Useless 5th century military and their scorched earth policies. This is why boko haram has been routinely routing and brutal inflicting heavy casualties on them for more than 10 years . I have never seen such a useless military in human history

Same military that has received accolades world over for their gallantry. Even the US has not been able to end the Talibans or ISIS.

You are an ignorant loud mouth.

kettykin:


Useless 5th century military and their scorched earth policies. This is why boko haram has been routinely routing and brutal inflicting heavy casualties on them for more than 10 years . I have never seen such a useless military in human history

memory of war in the face of imminent war only speaks of one thing; deaths, plenty deaths. Our lives are made by the death of others.




Buhari a good man with evil Intensions

I arrest my case sha... All hail Biafra the promise land and the land of the risen sun

Do you still remember when your ancestors were ambushed in Ore by Afonja cowards?

When killed your chest beating fathers like a goat in the battlefield.

But today you are the one remembering Babaginda's quote.

Chest beaters

Poor paid military, why won't they loot?

[quote author=koondog post=102160523][/quote]
That's culture and heritage, should i show you where your chest beating leader fled from battlefield.

Where is Major Jonathan Uchendu now?

Chris525:

Same military that has received accolades world over for their gallantry. Even the US has not been able to end the Talibans or ISIS.

You are an ignorant loud mouth.

You're just being very dishonest and miserly with the truth, is it not the same military that was rejected in Mali for peace keeping operations and were told that they will man gates and load trucks

No be child's play

The Abagana massacre happened simply because Murtala Muhammed was a useless commander. He relied solely on the advice of his marabouts instead of military tactics. In saner climes, he would have been tried and thrown out of the military after the boat crossing debacle.

julaion:
The Abagana Ambush (March 31, 1968) was an ambush by Biafran guerrilla troops led by Major Jonathan Uchendu that wiped out the Nigerian 2 Division.[9] Of the 6,000 Nigerian troops ambushed, only a very small number survived, including the 2nd Division's commander, General Murtala Muhammed.

Abagana Ambush
Part of Biafran War
Abagana Ambush is located in NigeriaAbaganaAbagana
Abagana Ambush (Nigeria)
Date 31 March 1968
Location
Abagana, Nigeria
Result Decisive Biafran victory
Belligerents
Nigeria
Biafra
Commanders and leaders
Nigeria Murtala Muhammed
Biafra Jonathan Uchendu[nb 1]
Strength
6,000 soldiers
106 vehicles
700 soldiers
Casualties and losses
5,800-5,900

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 Major Joseph Achuzie and Col. Assam Nsudoh [/b]formed a pincer and attacked Onitsha from two directions, capturing and killing most Nigerian soldiers.

[b]In 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 moved out towards Enugu, in a long convoy supported by armored cars, on the 31st day of March 1968.

On 31 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.[10] 350 tons of Nigerian Army equipment were destroyed or captured by the Biafran troops.[7][5] 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 Muhammed was relieved of his command and never commanded a division again.[7][10]

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 much of the Nigerian 2 Division convoy to pass through. His boys were shocked why he would allow them go through into the Biafran held zone. They were nervous and suspicious, yet they trusted his 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 with the rocket launcher on what to do to the invading convoy and when best to strike, the soldier accidentally pressed the trigger, letting go of the rocket. Luckily, he hit a fuel tanker. The tanker exploded and threw its contents onto a nearby armour carrier setting everything ablaze, causing multiple explosions.

In panic, soldiers who already crossed over into the Biafran line ran in different directions in total confusion. The Biafran soldiers attacked. They radioed the regular troops and they joined in the attack. When Uchendu learned that Muritala Muhammed 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.

The above write-up is riddled with errors and omissions. The battalion commanded by Captain Jonathan Ochendu was not a guerrilla unit but 29th battalion under 54the Brigade, 11 Div. Nigerian 2nd Div did not capture Onitsha through river assault but a diversionary effort from Bida with 4th and 6th brigades under Lt Col Murtala Mohammed and Captain Yara Adua. Due to the unwilling stand of Mohammed to abandon the river assaults on Onitsha, two of his brigade commanders left 2nd Div. Assam Nsudoh commanded 18th Battalion as a Major not a Col.

olamidedivotee:
Do you still remember when your ancestors were ambushed in Ore by Afonja cowards?

When killed your chest beating fathers like a goat in the battlefield.

But today you are the one remembering Babaginda's quote.

Chest beaters

: : the last time I checked it was that ugly dark Afonja,what was that his useless name,who stopped Biafrian soldiers entering ore may his hypocritical and cunning body continue to burn wherever he is stupid betrayers, now tell us how you came up with this concotion of a story

olamidedivotee:
Do you still remember when your ancestors were ambushed in Ore by Afonja cowards?

When killed your chest beating fathers like a goat in the battlefield.

But today you are the one remembering Babaginda's quote.

Chest beaters

Arrant nonsense!! A complete fallacy initiated by a goon who did not even know the day he joined Nigeria army. Nobody ambushed anybody at Ore. The unwarranted withdrawal without any tactical significance was induced by turncoat named Victor Banjo. When the commander of the lead battalion questioned him of OPORD to retreat, commander was slammed into guardroom.

NyamiriSlayer:
3 millions useless nyamiris were sacrificed to yoruba god of iron while your bastard, cursed and godforsaken agbari ojukwu disguised as a woman and fled, what a cursed people from a cursed region.
Descendants of ape from potopoto republic are the most useless people on earth
Spits on flathe@ded pigs of biafravd land

E pain am

NyamiriSlayer:
3 millions useless nyamiris were sacrificed to yoruba god of iron while your bastard, cursed and godforsaken agbari ojukwu disguised as a woman and fled, what a cursed people from a cursed region.
Descendants of ape from potopoto republic are the most useless people on earth
Spits on flathe@ded pigs of biafravd land

E pain am

Rareoil:


E pain am

go take pain killer, i think you need it most

rottennaija:
Where is Major Jonathan Uchendu now?

Gen. Alexadiebo too

NyamiriSlayer:
go take pain killer, i think you need it most

Coming from someone who makes incoherent, hateful comments.