₦airaland Forum

Summary ;
- It took the Mighty Nigerian Army 8 months to finally capture Owerri !!
- Owerri battle was the fiercest in the whole war and the Nigerian army paid a huge price
- The fighting was so fierce that 300 Nigerian soliders had to fight their way out of Owerri to save their dear lives
- The Nigerian Army used ARAB mecenaries who indiscriminately bombed civilians including the red cross.
- Obasanjo took Owerri in January 1970
- Nigerian Army lost circa 2000 soldiers to retake Owerri

On 15 January the Biafran 60th Brigade attacked Owerri and were able to force the 16th Division to retreat across the Otamini Bridge. Instead of pursuing the retreating Nigerians, the hungry and half-naked Biafran soldiers discovered the Nigerians' food and clothing supplies and decided to have their fill. The Nigerian 16th Brigade was able to regroup and made a counter-attack across the Otamini Bridge, causing the Biafrans to retreat.

On 24 January the Nigerian government renewed its offensive and began bombing Biafran positions in the area. After five days of continuous air strikes, the Biafrans remained in their original positions; the Nigerian government knew that Owerri was encircled and they couldn't do anything about it.

On 7 February both the Nigerian Air Force and Egyptian mercenaries bombed out and completely destroyed the villages of Umohiagu and Ozu Abam, which prompted accusations[by whom?] of deliberately targeting civilians. The government ordered the Nigerian Air Force to avoid civilian targets but they disregarded this request and continued to bomb towns and Red Cross shelters. In late February, Gen. Gowon visited the 16th Brigade in Owerri and attempted to encourage them to keep fighting until re-enforcements could be sent.

On 14 March Nigerian troops attempted to capture the Omanelu-Umuakpu and Elele-Ubimini-Awarra roads but were beaten back by defending Biafran soldiers, leaving them isolated and short of food.

On 15 March the Biafran S Division under Major Timothy Onwuatuegwu made a frontal assault on the 16th Brigade but was forced to halt after suffering heavy casualties. Major Onwuatuegwu placed half of his men under the command of Major Joseph Achuzie and were able to get within 1 km of the city. Major Achuzie demanded total control of the S Division but was refused by Onwuatuegwu and the two men almost shot each other after drawing their guns.[1] President Ojukwu stepped in and gave Major Achuzie control of the S Division for one week, continuing the frontal assault on Owerri. Achuzie's plan ultimately failed and he retreated after suffering heavy casualties, Ojukwu then immediately restored Onwuatuegwu as commander and began drawing up new plans for invading Owerri.

On 31 March the Biafran 14th Division under Ogbugo Kalu attacked Owerri and secured control over 70% of the city. Biafran soldiers began intercepting radio waves that revealed the 16th Brigade was going to execute all Biafran POWs due to a lack of food. The Swedish pilot Carl Gustaf von Rosen and his "Biafra Babies" fighter squadron, consisting of six MFI-9 Junior fighters, constantly hounded Nigerian air drops, making Nigerian food supplies scarce.

On 20 April Etuk's second-in-command, Major Ted Hamman, was shot and killed in Owerri by a Biafran sniper who had managed to get within firing range.

On 24 April the remaining 300 soldiers of the Nigerian 16th Division began fighting their way out of Owerri and escaped into Nigerian held territory on 25 April.

Aftermath
Two days before Owerri's capture, the Biafran capital, Umuahia, fell to Col. Mohammed Shuwa's 1st Division and the capital was moved to Aba. Once Owerri was retaken, the Biafran capital was once again moved, now to Owerri. The Biafrans held on to Owerri for over eight months until the Nigerian 3rd Marine Division, under Col. Olusegun Obasanjo, attacked and occupied the city on January 7, 1970.

Source - Wikpedia

Interesting

Dduce0:
Interesting

Very interesting indeed.

YouWillNotWin:
Summary ;
- It took the Mighty Nigerian Army 8 months to finally capture Owerri !!
- Owerri battle was the fiercest in the whole war and the Nigerian army paid a huge price
- The fighting was so fierce that 300 Nigerian soliders had to fight their way out of Owerri to save their dear lives
- The Nigerian Army used ARAB mecenaries who indiscriminately bombed civilians including the red cross.
- Obasanjo took Owerri in January 1970
- Nigerian Army lost circa 2000 soldiers to retake Owerri

On 15 January the Biafran 60th Brigade attacked Owerri and were able to force the 16th Division to retreat across the Otamini Bridge. Instead of pursuing the retreating Nigerians, the hungry and half-naked Biafran soldiers discovered the Nigerians' food and clothing supplies and decided to have their fill. The Nigerian 16th Brigade was able to regroup and made a counter-attack across the Otamini Bridge, causing the Biafrans to retreat.

On 24 January the Nigerian government renewed its offensive and began bombing Biafran positions in the area. After five days of continuous air strikes, the Biafrans remained in their original positions; the Nigerian government knew that Owerri was encircled and they couldn't do anything about it.

On 7 February both the Nigerian Air Force and Egyptian mercenaries bombed out and completely destroyed the villages of Umohiagu and Ozu Abam, which prompted accusations[by whom?] of deliberately targeting civilians. The government ordered the Nigerian Air Force to avoid civilian targets but they disregarded this request and continued to bomb towns and Red Cross shelters. In late February, Gen. Gowon visited the 16th Brigade in Owerri and attempted to encourage them to keep fighting until re-enforcements could be sent.

On 14 March Nigerian troops attempted to capture the Omanelu-Umuakpu and Elele-Ubimini-Awarra roads but were beaten back by defending Biafran soldiers, leaving them isolated and short of food.

On 15 March the Biafran S Division under Major Timothy Onwuatuegwu made a frontal assault on the 16th Brigade but was forced to halt after suffering heavy casualties. Major Onwuatuegwu placed half of his men under the command of Major Joseph Achuzie and were able to get within 1 km of the city. Major Achuzie demanded total control of the S Division but was refused by Onwuatuegwu and the two men almost shot each other after drawing their guns.[1] President Ojukwu stepped in and gave Major Achuzie control of the S Division for one week, continuing the frontal assault on Owerri. Achuzie's plan ultimately failed and he retreated after suffering heavy casualties, Ojukwu then immediately restored Onwuatuegwu as commander and began drawing up new plans for invading Owerri.

On 31 March the Biafran 14th Division under Ogbugo Kalu attacked Owerri and secured control over 70% of the city. Biafran soldiers began intercepting radio waves that revealed the 16th Brigade was going to execute all Biafran POWs due to a lack of food. The Swedish pilot Carl Gustaf von Rosen and his "Biafra Babies" fighter squadron, consisting of six MFI-9 Junior fighters, constantly hounded Nigerian air drops, making Nigerian food supplies scarce.

On 20 April Etuk's second-in-command, Major Ted Hamman, was shot and killed in Owerri by a Biafran sniper who had managed to get within firing range.

On 24 April the remaining 300 soldiers of the Nigerian 16th Division began fighting their way out of Owerri and escaped into Nigerian held territory on 25 April.

Aftermath
Two days before Owerri's capture, the Biafran capital, Umuahia, fell to Col. Mohammed Shuwa's 1st Division and the capital was moved to Aba. Once Owerri was retaken, the Biafran capital was once again moved, now to Owerri. The Biafrans held on to Owerri for over eight months until the Nigerian 3rd Marine Division, under Col. Olusegun Obasanjo, attacked and occupied the city on January 7, 1970.

Source - Wikpedia

The above post is rubbish without iota of simple truth.

Idiko1:
The above post is rubbish without iota of simple truth.

LMAO .

It's TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH.

But Ojukwu cowardly flew and later came back to pledge for one Nigeria. He even went to Daura to meet Buhari and beg for forgiveness.

YouWillNotWin:
LMAO .

It's TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH.

Do you know the terrain around Owerri, especially Aboh Mbaise, Ikeduru, Mbaitoli and Owerri North LGAs? I guess you know the place hosting Akabo Girls Secondary School and Atta Girls Secondary School. In addition, it is imperative you know the positions of Emekuku, Aboh, Emii, Uzoagba and Mbieri with respect to Owerri town.

muykem:
But Ojukwu cowardly later flew.

True but after he rubbed the face of your gallant troops in the mud

3 Years ?? 3 Years to defeat the most poorly equipped army in human history !!

muykem:
But Ojukwu cowardly later flew.

u re right my brother, exactly the way pedophile moha moha ran from mecca to medina

And still biafra lost the war and every privilege they had before the war. Pls let's forget war it will do nobody any good.

Solsix:
And still biafra lost the war and every privilege they had before the war. Pls let's forget war it will do nobody any good.

And they made up for it in no time while the country continues to be a SHIT HOLE and a CESSPOOL of ignorance, murder, mayhem, madness and stupidity.

Enjoy your ONE NIGERIA

Nigeria has always been a very useless country since time Imo river. Imagine hungry and armless Biafra fighting them to a standstill, if only the Biafrans had as much arms and foods like them, the war would have lasted for 5 years with the defeat of Nigeria.

Solsix:
And still biafra lost the war and every privilege they had before the war. Pls let's forget war it will do nobody any good.

No they never lost the War.
The War was more than a fight for territory,it was more of a fight against oppression and intimidation.
Igbo held a more organized Union with the help of World powers for 3 yrs.

All hail the great fallen Heroes.