BIAFRA: Today In History
BIAFRA: Today In History
It was exactly today, July 6th in 1967 that the Nigeria/Biafra civil war began.
A 3 years duration genocide they deceptively called war which the agreement at Aburi in Ghana would have prevented, but Yakubu Gowon upon arrival to Nigeria disobeyed the agreement and thereby, initiating the war thinking that Biafra would be a walkover for them. Yakubu Gowon’s plan to militarily overrun Biafra in four weeks took them over 144 weeks and yet, they could not achieve it despite their numerous international alliance and military supports against the new Biafra nation.
It was at about 5:30 a.m in the early hours of July 6, 1967, that the Nigerian troops invaded Gakem, a town in Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River state and opened fire. It was the 1st Division of the Nigerian Army led by Major Mohammed Shuwa that invaded the town and launched an artillery shell aimed at the Biafran soldiers camped around the hill in the town. The Biafran soldiers had no choice but to defend themselves, the town, its people and the Biafran nation at large.
The war lasted till January 15, 1970 with casualties in both sides but a heavier casualty in the Biafran side.
During this period, it was believed that not fewer than 3.5 million Biafrans died in the war who are mostly women and children and have died of starvation and diseases. Britain having colonized Nigeria before the war broke out came back during the war to defend the false unity of the Nigeria they created. So Britain jointly fought in the side of Nigeria against Biafra and caused us many pains. After the war, the Nigerian government gave some Biafran families 20 pounds to start live again. The intention was that the Biafrans cannot survive with just 20 pounds so they intended to continue the war in disguise. But to their greatest surprise, both the Biafrans who received the 20 pounds and the ones who did not receive it are all doing well today. The mouthwatering Nigeria economy today is determined by the Biafrans they intended to slaughter.
But our happiness is that we did not lose the war. Biafra did not lose the war although, we surrendered for the moment in 1970 but the war still rages and in another dimension with a higher morale. This time, we won’t surrender neither shall we retreat until we get Biafra.
Hi welcome to my website 
The war (genocide) was indeed a tragic affair in the history of Nigeria. I was eight (8) years when the war broke out in 1967. What I saw and witnessed in Ubiaja, a border town to Illushi where the River Niger flows through, was systematic execution of Igbo people by the Nigerian soldiers who came into Ubiaja through Illushi. I saw fathers of my childhood friends shot and killed by the Nigerian soldiers. Before then, there was no differentiation between Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba and other tribes that were living in harmony together with Esan people in Ubiaja. We did know there were differences amongst us. We lived as one and celebrated milestones and festivities together. When the Igbos would be celebrating Igbo Day, we joined in the celebration with them. Wgen the war ended in 1970, many Igbos who had build houses in Ubiaja and Uromi returned to claim back their properties and belongings. To this day, that part of Nigerian history is a shame to every Nigerian letting innocent Igbos to experience such suffering and death.
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Wow I really appreciate your contribution thanks so much my brother
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