₦airaland Forum

A coup was carried out in January 1966 by young military officers from many zones in Nigeria including Yorubas and Northerners but was dominated by igbos from present day south south, south east and then Midwest. The coup succeeded everywhere but failed in Lagos which enabled the highest ranked army officer to take over power , coincidentally an Igbo man by name General Aguiyi Ironsi. Aguiyi was dragging his feet about trying and sentencing those boys to death maybe because they fellow igbos. Curiosly it was discovered that of all the people they killed in the coup none was igbo which enraged the northerners because Ahmadu Bello who they saw as a semi god was part of the people killed . Riots started in the north targeted at Igbos killing Igbos in North. Aguiyi never prepared for leadership or the crisis he threw himself into by taking power and was generally seen as a weak leader. A bloody counter coup by north led by Theophilus Danjuma killed him and almost all the Igbo officers in Army then killed and Gowon was installed but was seen as a northern puppet. The killings of Igbos still continued which Gowon couldn’t control . Ojukwu as the military administrator of then eastern Nigeria agreed with Gowon in Aburi for a regional government but Gowon came back and reneged on the agreement which according to Ademoyega book was instructed to do so by British government. As the killings continued Ojukwu declared Biafra and ask all igbos to come back home for safety but Gowon said no that he will use armed action to stop Ojukwu Biafra declaration, so Gowon fully backed by Britain in that action embarked on a war that an estimated 3m people lost their lives courtesy of Queen Elizabeth’s Britain

Kdon2:
Allow me to give you a brief summary of the Biafra war.
The Biafra war was a direct result of the first military coup of January 15, 1966 against the then civilian government. The civilian government was headed by a northerner tafawa balewa, with namdi azikiwe as executive president, Samuel akintola was premier (governor) southwestern region, ahmadu bello was premier northern region, michael okpara eastern region while dennis osadebay was premier Mid-Western region. The coup which was masterminded by ibo boys in army killed only northern and south west leaders sparing all ibo leaders including bamdi azikwe and micheal okpara among many major political figures of the time.

The Hausa boys in the army were enraged when ibos began to strategically manipulate the Nigeria system in order to dominate all other tribes. Then the Hausa Fulani group in the army carried out counter coup to remove the ibo man that was made the head of state after failure to address the issues raised by the northerners about the couo and the couo plotters more especially when ibos began to celebrate the death of tafawa balewa and ahmadu bello mocking their death with caricature of a goat among other diss.

Because the counter coup of July 1966 had many ibos slaughtered including the then military head of state aguyi ironsi, odimegwu ojukwu went to war to pull eastern Nigeria out of the Nigeria merger, since tge condition for peace demanded by him was not met by the government of yakubu Gowon which was installed by the aggrieved northern army boys behind the second coup.

This is the summary of how the Biafra war started. It however ended badly for the ojukwu Biafran side when they began advancing and Overunning Yoruba land of ore and moving towards Lagos because Yorubas that had chosen to be neutral were forced into the fight between hausa/Fulani army boys and ibos army boys with the threat on Yoruba land. Awolowo joined the yakubu Gowon federal government to clip the wing of the ibo guys. End of war!

I wouldn't encourage you to digest hook, line and sinker what people say on line about the civil war. Because for ages it is known that those who still run the government prospered a propaganda to shot every young off from knowing the truth. Which is why History was banned our schools.

I encourage you to read all the recommended books from different witnessing parties goto youtube and search for edmundobilo, he has a several eye witness series of interviews on the civil War topic. Alot of credible guests

1. You said the Yoruba only joined the war because Biafra side was trying to over the Western part of the country? Did Nigeria operate a regional army right before the war? If not how come you said the Yoruba only joined the war because the Biafra side invaded Ore?

2. Can you be kind enough to lists the name of the military officers that carried out the coup ?

Kdon2:
Allow me to give you a brief summary of the Biafra war.
The Biafra war was a direct result of the first military coup of January 15, 1966 against the then civilian government. The civilian government was headed by a northerner tafawa balewa, with namdi azikiwe as executive president, Samuel akintola was premier (governor) southwestern region, ahmadu bello was premier northern region, michael okpara eastern region while dennis osadebay was premier Mid-Western region. The coup which was masterminded by ibo boys in army killed only northern and south west leaders sparing all ibo leaders including bamdi azikwe and micheal okpara among many major political figures of the time.

The Hausa boys in the army were enraged when ibos began to strategically manipulate the Nigeria system in order to dominate all other tribes. Then the Hausa Fulani group in the army carried out counter coup to remove the ibo man that was made the head of state after failure to address the issues raised by the northerners about the couo and the couo plotters more especially when ibos began to celebrate the death of tafawa balewa and ahmadu bello mocking their death with caricature of a goat among other diss.

Because the counter coup of July 1966 had many ibos slaughtered including the then military head of state aguyi ironsi, odimegwu ojukwu went to war to pull eastern Nigeria out of the Nigeria merger, since tge condition for peace demanded by him was not met by the government of yakubu Gowon which was installed by the aggrieved northern army boys behind the second coup.

This is the summary of how the Biafra war started. It however ended badly for the ojukwu Biafran side when they began advancing and Overunning Yoruba land of ore and moving towards Lagos because Yorubas that had chosen to be neutral were forced into the fight between hausa/Fulani army boys and ibos army boys with the threat on Yoruba land. Awolowo joined the yakubu Gowon federal government to clip the wing of the ibo guys. End of war!

It wasn't SGF that advised Gowon, actually it was the USA through shell petroleum agents. Because there was previous interviews where Ojukwu ran his mouth on how he was going to tax oil producing company. That didn't sit well with the American government/oil company then, hence, they advised Gowon against it and even promised to support his side in the war that broke out

chrisxxx:
You got what happened till you got to Ojukwu. Ojukwu was supposed to leave the army since a junior officer in the person of Gowon had taken over government. Ojukwu insisted of staying but trying to change the system where Nigeria would run close a confederate system. In such system he might have nothing to do with Gowon. He would be in charge of Eastern Nigeria and perhaps only pay tax to Nigeria. Gowon initially agreed to this plan because he was afraid of the East. But some knowledgeable Nigerians like the SFG then who later became the Oba of Benin advised Gowon against this plan. Gowon later withdrew from an agreement he had signed in Aburi Ghana in support of this while Ojukwu insisted on the signed agreement.
Britain was tacitly supporting Gowon. It now became a show of whoever had the superior might should have their way. At the end with the superior gun power of Nigeria with the support of Britain, Russia and the Arab world including Niger Republic and Egypt brought Biafra to her knees.

gidgiddy:
The so called South South might have been able to ask for their independence in Biafra, but they dare not do that in Nigeria

So it was worse for them in Nigeria

It would have been worst with Biafra. The signs were there and that was why Biafra failed. Reas Sunset in Biafra by Elechi Amadi.

dettolgel:
It wasn't SGF that advised Gowon, actually it was the USA through shell petroleum agents. Because there was previous interviews where Ojukwu ran his mouth on how he was going to tax oil producing company. That didn't sit well with the American government/oil company then, hence, they advised Gowon against it and even promised to support his side in the war that broke out

Thanks

illicit:
The man died - Wole Soyinka

Why we struck - Ademoyega

Ben Gbulie wrote a book too ( Maybe the 5 Majors)

There was a country - Chinua Achebe

Joe Achuzia (Hannibal) wrote a book too, can't remember the title...


The Biafran Testament - Can't remember Author

There is a book by Forsyth, a British Journalist as well

A lot of others I can't remember now
To fully understand the Biafran war, you have to start reading from the first military coup of 1966

He should read My Command by Obasanjo

illicit:
That's not true

U can see up there, Soyinkas prison memoir, Ademoyega's writ, Frederick Forsyth...

Are they Biafrians?

They don't have to be Biafran before writing from the Biafran perspective

dettolgel:
It wasn't SGF that advised Gowon, actually it was the USA through shell petroleum agents. Because there was previous interviews where Ojukwu ran his mouth on how he was going to tax oil producing company. That didn't sit well with the American government/oil company then, hence, they advised Gowon against it and even promised to support his side in the war that broke out

Why are you misleading these people. Shell is a UK company, what has USA got to do with the interest of a USA company.
Remember US was fighting in Vietnam during this period too

Confirmedzombie:
Below is the summary of the Biafran war.

There was a couple coup carried out by ibo soldiers , they killed all the Northern top officers, spared all the top igbo officers.

There was a wild jubilation across the Eastern region in which the ibos where making caricatures of the Northern Top officers killed.


The Northern boys in the Army protested over this caricatures but ojukwu and his boys called them a blof.

The Northern boys now struck killing all ibo top officers and installed Gowon a junior officer to ojukwu.

Ojukwu was forced to Resign but he refused and came up with the Aburi Accord.

Gowon accepted but the then Obama of Benin cautioned Gowon on the implications of entering into the Aburi Accird.

This angered ojukwu who now gathered the ibo soldiers and called for war.

With the superior fire arms of the Nigerian military, ojukwu ran away from the country while over 10million ibos were killed.

The South South wanted to support the ibos in the war but ojukwu ordered the killing of Major Isaac Adaka Boro a true son of the south South.

This angered the people of Rivers state to close all sea ports and borders to the Eastern region.

There was no food nor water for the Eastern region and over 5million children died out of starvation.

This led ojukwu to reach out to Akintola to beg Gowon. Ojukwu thereafter issued a televised public appology that made Gowon to calk a ceasefire

I believe you can do better with the bolds.
Infact, go and read books and stop listening to tales for now.
@op, like Politics, like in Religion; As in History like Wars, to get an unbiased general idea of what really happened in that civil war, read books written by writers from all sides.
Most especially, listen to interviews or personal account of key participants in the war.
Any one person telling you the cause and effect of the war will definitely involve emotions and favouritism in their limited narratives.

dettolgel:
1. You said the Yoruba only joined the war because Biafra side was trying to over the Western part of the country? Did Nigeria operate a regional army right before the war? If not how come you said the Yoruba only joined the war because the Biafra side invaded Ore?

2. Can you be kind enough to lists the name of the military officers that carried out the coup ?

He's right.
At the time , majority of soldiers were based in their regions, however some companies were transferred around the country ie. Hausa/Fulani soldiers barracked in Lagos to protect Balewa. However senior officers were freely posted anywhere .
The bulk of the Yoruba soldiers were in the SW.
At the start of the war..the fight was purely between the North and SE. most of the soldiers fighting for Nigeria were the Northerners and Middle Belt tribes especially the Tiv(known for their brutality). The war was mostly evenly balanced until the Igbos decided to stroll into Yorubaland after overrunning the Mid-West region (that foolishly broke away from the West a few years prior) we all know what the Igbos did to them, systematic rape and murder of the inhabitants.
It was their invasion of Ore that really brought out the ire in Yoruba, and committed them into fighting. After pushing them out of Ore, the Igbo retreated back into Alaigbo, murdering everyone not Igbo along the way.
From that point onwards, the battle tilted against them..Sure the Igbos won some battles, notably in Abagana, but their victories were far and few in-between. By the time the Yoruba brigades crossed into Biafra thru Port Harcourt, on their match to Enugu,the death knell for Biafra was already sounding. At this point, the Yoruba took over the war prosecution with officers like Black Scorpion et al.. they wanted to repay back the Midwest favour and slaughter every Igbo,man woman and child, dog and cats even.
Till today..the Igbos haven't truly thanked and appreciated Gowon for reining in the Yoruba troops. They wanted to level and kill anything that breathed and moved. Complete annihilation of the Igbo subrace. The war ended with the cowardly exit of Ojukwu albeit dressed as a woman and escaping to Ivory Coast and leaving behind Philip Effiong to surrender, accept defeat and shame at the hands of the FG. Surprisingly, Effiong was warmly received by Gowon and recognized as a true soldier..he ended his days with praise and dignity..the disgraced General slunk back in after a pardon.

Oceanfl0w:
Making of an African legend, the Biafran story. By Fredrick Forsyth.

The reluctant Rebel. By one Yoruba man who fought on the Biafran side.

Sunset in Biafra etc

A Yoruba person fought on the Biafran side? Now, that's a book to read

As Ai on your WhatsApp

illicit:
The man died - Wole Soyinka

Why we struck - Ademoyega

Ben Gbulie wrote a book too ( Maybe the 5 Majors)

There was a country - Chinua Achebe

Joe Achuzia (Hannibal) wrote a book too, can't remember the title...


The Biafran Testament - Can't remember Author

There is a book by Forsyth, a British Journalist as well

A lot of others I can't remember now
To fully understand the Biafran war, you have to start reading from the first military coup of 1966

omokri how are you doing today

dettolgel:
It wasn't SGF that advised Gowon, actually it was the USA through shell petroleum agents. Because there was previous interviews where Ojukwu ran his mouth on how he was going to tax oil producing company. That didn't sit well with the American government/oil company then, hence, they advised Gowon against it and even promised to support his side in the war that broke out

I always ask for proof of all your made up claims. You sit down and imagine claims from your head without even bothering to provide any real evidence.
Where is the proof that it wS American government/oil companies that advice Ojukwu against the Aburi accord instead of prince Akenzua of Benin Kingdom?
https://guardian.ng/opinion/the-memo-of-akenzua-on-aburi/

Most of the soldiers that fought on the Biafran side are south south

Major nzeogwu
Philip effiong

The Asaba massacre they still termed it igbos

But those ones said that they are not igbos

My home town was the first place the Nigerian soldiers invaded

Nsukka, my grandfather and his people were in the shrine when they came

They didn’t kill a single soul

The Nigerian soldiers left them and advanced to another side

chrisxxx:
You got what happened till you got to Ojukwu. Ojukwu was supposed to leave the army since a junior officer in the person of Gowon had taken over government. Ojukwu insisted of staying but trying to change the system where Nigeria would run close a confederate system. In such system he might have nothing to do with Gowon. He would be in charge of Eastern Nigeria and perhaps only pay tax to Nigeria. Gowon initially agreed to this plan because he was afraid of the East. But some knowledgeable Nigerians like the SFG then who later became the Oba of Benin advised Gowon against this plan. Gowon later withdrew from an agreement he had signed in Aburi Ghana in support of this while Ojukwu insisted on the signed agreement.
Britain was tacitly supporting Gowon. It now became a show of whoever had the superior might should have their way. At the end with the superior gun power of Nigeria with the support of Britain, Russia and the Arab world including Niger Republic and Egypt brought Biafra to her knees.

Ojukwu had no rights to insist on anything. Why? because he had no such power or authority. Nigeria was already operating a loose confederation whereby all regions was semi autonomous and financially independent. It was his fellow tribesman, General Ironsi that destroyed than confederacy and financial independence in the first place. Ojukwu just wanted power. He could have insisted on a return to the 1959 constitution which was negotiated and agreed to by representatives of the regions.

Homeboiy:
Most of the soldiers that fought on the Biafran side are south south

Major nzeogwu
Philip effiong

The Asaba massacre they still termed it igbos

But those ones said that they are not igbos

My home town was the first place the Nigerian soldiers invaded

Nsukka, my grandfather and his people were in the shrine when they came

They didn’t kill a single soul

The Nigerian soldiers left them and advanced to another side

But most of the people killed or brutally murdered were northerners with a few South Westerners and mid westerners, no igbo politician or senior military officer was touched.

After unilaterally declaring independence, what do you expect would happen?

wirinet:
But most of the people killed or brutally murdered were northerners with a few South Westerners and mid westerners, no igbo politician or senior military officer was touched.

After unilaterally declaring independence, what do you expect would happen?

If UK, Russia, Egypt and some other countries hadn’t supported Nigeria

Biafra would have won

Even Russia-Ukraine war
Israel -Gaza

Relief materials are sent there

Half of a yellow Sun: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The forest Dames: AdaOkere Agbasimalo
The honest explanation of Nigeria civil war- The Biafran Story by NewAfrica YouTube channel

wirinet:
Ojukwu had no rights to insist on anything. Why? because he had no such power or authority. Nigeria was already operating a loose confederation whereby all regions was semi autonomous and financially independent. It was his fellow tribesman, General Ironsi that destroyed than confederacy and financial independence in the first place. Ojukwu just wanted power. He could have insisted on a return to the 1959 constitution which was negotiated and agreed to by representatives of the regions.

Bros I have told you what happened. Nigeria was running a unified military system despite the pseudo independence of the regions. In the military once a junior officer takes over government all those above him must honourable bow out. Ogundipe did this and it was expected of Ojukwu to follow suit. But Ojukwu insisted of staying without being answerable to Gowon once a junior officer to him.

Homeboiy:
If UK, Russia, Egypt and some other countries hadn’t supported Nigeria

Biafra would have won

Even Russia-Ukraine war
Israel -Gaza

Relief materials are sent there

In every war there has always been interest. Ojukwu didn't do his home work meticulously. He thought he was just seeing the North. Azikiwe was seeing more that. When he tried to explain this to Ojukwu and the generality of the Igbos they saw him as a weakling and saboteur.
Wars are the private businesses of the world powers. You can't win or start one without getting them involved.

viccy12:
Please, disregard this bias submission. Read books written by neutral bodies

It is bias as you just said now. But bear in mind that if you start another senseless war, you will get the same treatment you got in the first civil war.

Zulu11zulu:
omokri how are you doing today

Compliments...

chrisxxx:
It would have been worst with Biafra. The signs were there and that was why Biafra failed. Reas Sunset in Biafra by Elechi Amadi.

It would have been worse with Biafra? You actually think that a situation where you have to deal with one majority, would have been worse than a situation where you have to deal with three majorities? Really?

dettolgel:
1. You said the Yoruba only joined the war because Biafra side was trying to over the Western part of the country? Did Nigeria operate a regional army right before the war? If not how come you said the Yoruba only joined the war because the Biafra side invaded Ore?

2. Can you be kind enough to lists the name of the military officers that carried out the coup ?

To answer your first question, Yoruba as a people had chosen to be neutral in the fight because the government that was toppled was led by the hausas not Yoruba. It was Hausa led military against Biafra boys. That federal military consist of all tribes including ibos. Those actively involved in the war as a people were the Hausa/Fulani whose leaders were mocked by ibo after the first coup by predominantly ibo guys.

Your second question. Ibos were the mastermind of the coup, all others were brought in for convenience. Even nzeogu was drafted in at the last minute by ifeajuna and anuforo. Below is the list of the plotters mostly of ibo origin.

SammywritesNG:
I wouldn't encourage you to digest hook, line and sinker what people say on line about the civil war. Because for ages it is known that those who still run the government prospered a propaganda to shot every young off from knowing the truth. Which is why History was banned our schools.

I encourage you to read all the recommended books from different witnessing parties goto youtube and search for edmundobilo, he has a several eye witness series of interviews on the civil War topic. Alot of credible guests

Bro don't just sit with what suits your emotion. Be open minded. Ojukwu stopped Isaac boro from self determination, Azikiwe stopped the whole Nigeria from the option if self determination. These are factors in the war and are historical facts. Read dispassionately sir☹️

mcjohny:
I would love to ask please, how did ojukwu start the war

He declared the republic of Biafra as against the spirit of the constitution.

gidgiddy:
It would have been worse with Biafra? You actually think that a situation where you have to deal with one majority, would have been worse than a situation where you have to deal with three majorities? Really?

The worst is to deal with one majority. But with the majority we have today it is easy for majority to have their ways.