The Biafran War, also known as the Nigerian Civil War, was a violent armed conflict that erupted in Nigeria from 1967 to 1970. This devastating conflict pitted the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state in southeastern Nigeria, against the Nigerian Government. 

The war, which resulted in immense human suffering and significant social and political repercussions, remains one of the darkest chapters in Nigeria’s history.

Causes and Background

The Biafran War was fueled by several complex factors, primarily the ethnic fault lines and political tensions that plagued Nigeria since its independence from British colonial rule in 1960. The country was created as a federation, merging separate regions with distinct ethnic, cultural, and religious identities. The Igbo people, who dominated the southeast region, chafed under the political and economic dominance of the Hausa-Fulani ethnic groups in the north.

READ ALSO: OSEI TUTU: The Legendary Asante Warrior of Ghana

Tensions escalated when Lieutenant Colonel Emeka Ojukwu, the military governor of the predominantly Igbo Eastern Region, declared the secession of Biafra on May 30, 1967. This decision followed a series of military coups, prolonged political instability, and violent anti-Igbo pogroms that occurred in Northern Nigeria, leading to the massacre and expulsion of thousands of Igbo people.

Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis

The Nigerian Government, led by General Yakubu Gowon, immediately launched a military campaign to suppress the secessionist movement and regain control over Biafra. The Biafrans, led by their charismatic leader, Ojukwu, put up fierce resistance and sought international recognition and support. However, the Nigerian army’s superior numbers, increased military aid from foreign countries, and an economic blockade imposed on Biafra by Nigeria gradually tipped the scales in favor of the Nigerian Government.

The consequences of the conflict were catastrophic, with estimates suggesting that between 1 and 3 million people lost their lives due to combat, starvation, and disease. The Nigerian Government’s blockade, limiting access to food and medical supplies in Biafra, led to one of the most severe humanitarian crises witnessed in Africa. Images of malnourished children, popularly known as “Biafra babies,” shocked the world and prompted numerous humanitarian efforts.