Moment Ojukwu’s second-in-command surrendered to Gowon

Moment Ojukwu’s second-in-command surrendered to Gowon

Moment Ojukwu’s second-in-command surrendered to Gowon

The Nigerian civil war lasted for three years, but the final Nigerian offensive, named “Operation Tail-Wind”, was launched on 7 January, 1970 with the 3rd Marine Commando Division attacking, and supported by the 1st Infantry division to the north and the 2nd Infantry division to the south. The Biafran towns of Owerri fell on 9 January, and Uli on 11 January. Only a few days earlier, Emeka Ojukwu, the Bïafran warlord, fled into exile by plane to the Ivory Coast, leaving his deputy, Philip Effiong, to handle the details of the surrender to General Yakubu Gowon of the Federal Army on 13 January 1970.

The surrender paper was signed on 14 January, 1970 in Lagos and thus came the end of the civil war and renunciation of secession. Fighting ended a few days later, with the Nigerian forces advancing into the remaining Biafran-held territories, which was met with little resistance.

Upper photo shows the moment Effiong arrived Lagos to surrender. Lower photo shows the moment Effiong met Yakubu Gowon.