SerialSaga: Nigerian Civil War

 If you've read any of my past articles, you might recognize a recurring theme: leaders with military backgrounds often leave a trail of immeasurable strife and pain. This could warrant an article on its own. Consider, for instance, the devastation wrought by Idi Amin and Mengistu Haile Mariam. Here, I focus on another pertinent example—the Nigerian Civil War.

The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War, took place between 1967 and 1970. It was primarily a conflict between the Nigerian government, led by General Yakubu Gowon, and the secessionist state of Biafra, led by Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Nigeria, with its diverse ethnic composition, includes three major ethnic groups: the Hausa-Fulani in the north, the Yoruba in the southwest, and the Igbo in the southeast. Despite gaining independence from Britain in 1960, ethnic tensions and rivalries persisted, exacerbated by the colonial policy of indirect rule, which often favored certain ethnic groups over others.

Post-independence, Nigeria experienced two military coups. The first coup, led predominantly by Igbo officers, resulted in an Igbo head of state, creating resentment among the northern Hausa-Fulani, who felt marginalized. A counter-coup occurred just seven months later, leading to the assassination of the Igbo head of state. Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon, a northerner, then became the head of state, further deepening ethnic tensions.

This turmoil led to widespread massacres of Igbos living in the northern and western parts of Nigeria. Thousands were killed, and many more fled to the eastern region. In response, feeling increasingly marginalized, Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, the military governor of the Eastern Region, declared the independence of the Republic of Biafra on May 30, 1967. However, this secession was not recognized by the Nigerian government or the international community.

Efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully included the Aburi Accord in January 1967, where Nigerian leaders met in Aburi, Ghana, to discuss the crisis. However, the agreements reached at Aburi were not fully implemented, leading to a breakdown in negotiations.

It is said that military leaders saw the situation as an opportunity to display eloquence and hurl insults, showcasing their strength, pride, arrogance, and heroism, without the slightest consideration for national interest and unity.

Gowon declared war on Biafra on July 6, 1967, launching a military campaign to bring the eastern region back into the federation. The ensuing conflict lasted for three years, resulting in significant loss of life, widespread famine in Biafra, and considerable destruction.

Given the numerical superiority of the Nigerian Army and the inferiority of the Biafran Army, neither side expected a prolonged war. However, the tenacity of the Biafran soldiers, driven by the need to protect their families and state, extended the conflict.

There are questions regarding the role of international interests in the conflict. Did oil companies like Shell and BP, acting through British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, interfere with negotiations to destabilize the region for oil interests, subsequently providing military aid to Gowon? Did France openly support and provide military aid to further destabilize the region, given the strategic position of French colonies?

Were the millions of lives lost due to starvation, military deaths, and ethnic cleansing merely economic pawns for Western powers seeking to gain mineral, land resources, and oil?