2024: 1930 Chronology: Appendix 41: The Nigerian Civil War and The Battle of Ore

 

 Appendix 41 

The Nigerian Civil War 

and

The Battle of Ore

The Nigerian Civil War (also known as the Biafran War and the Nigerian-Biafran War) was a civil war in Nigeria fought between the government of Nigeria and the secessionist state of Biafra from July 6, 1967 to 15 January 15, 1970. Biafra represented nationalist aspirations of the Igbo people, whose leadership felt they could no longer coexist with the Northern-dominated federal government. The conflict resulted from political, economic, ethnic, cultural and religious tensions which preceded Britain's formal decolonization of Nigeria from 1960 to 1963. Immediate causes of the war in 1966 included ethno-religious riots in Northern Nigeria, a military coup, a countercoup and persecution of Igbo living in Northern Nigeria. Control over the lucrative oil production in the Niger Delta played a vital strategic role.

Within a year, the Federal Government troops surrounded Biafra, capturing coastal oil facilities and the city of Port Harcourt. The blockade imposed during the ensuing stalemate led to mass starvation. During the two and half years of the war, there were about 100,000 overall military casualties, while between 500,000 and 2 million Biafran civilians died of starvation.

In mid-1968, images of malnourished and starving Biafran children saturated the mass media of Western countries. The plight of the starving Biafrans became a cause celebre in foreign countries, enabling a significant rise in the funding and prominence of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The United Kingdom and the Soviet Union were the main supporters of the Nigerian government, while France, Israel, and some other countries supported Biafra.

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The Battle of Ore was the key battle in the Midwest Invasion of 1967. The Midwest Invasion of 1967 (August 9 – September 20, 1967) codenamed Operation Torch. was a military operation between Nigerian and Biafran military forces during the Nigerian Civil War. The invasion began on August 9 when 3,000 Biafran soldiers led by Colonel Victor Banjo crossed the River Niger Bridge into Asaba.  Upon reaching Agbor, the Biafrans split up. With the 12th Battalion moving west capturing the cities of Benin and Ore.  The 18th Battalion swung south, taking Warri, Sapele and Ughelli.  While the 13th Battalion headed north for Auchi, Agenebode and Okene.  Simultaneously, a plot to capture Mid-Western Governor David Ejoor Mid-Western Governor at his home in Benin failed. Nevertheless, the Biafrans, meeting virtually no resistance, had seized the entire Mid-Western Region in less than 12 hours.

Plans were drawn for the 12th Battalion to continue its advance towards Lagos and Ibadan. However, it was devastatingly delayed due to arguments between  Nigerian President Odumegwu Ojukwu and Victor Banjo on whom to appoint as governor of the Mid-West. Giving enough time for Nigeria's Head of State Yakubu Gowon to assemble a defensive line in the west. Also, during the occupation there was widespread hostility between native Urhobo-Isoko, Ijoid and Itsekiri people against the occupying Igbo soldiers. Igbo and native militia groups launched hit and run and reprisal raids against each other. In a last ditch attempt to ease this inter-tribal tension, Ojukwu proclaimed the Republic of Benin under governor Albert Okonkwo on September 19, 1967, only for Nigerian troops to enter Benin the next day on the 20th, ending the new republic's 24 hour span.

The Biafran situation rapidly deteriorated following a Nigerian attack by Murtala Muhammad's 2nd Division at Ore, forcing the Biafrans to immediately retreat. In a large pincer movement, another Nigerian force headed south from Auchi towards Benin, as Benjamin Adekunle's 3rd Marine Commando division landed at Warri and promptly took Ughelli and Sapele. Benin was liberated in a three pronged attack from North, West and South which met little resistance. Biafran troops that were able to retreat fled across the Niger River Bridge into Biafra, destroying it afterwards. Those that were cut off abandoned their weaponry and uniforms and blended into the civilian population until it was safe to return east.

The Biafran retreat from Ore is considered the turning point of the Nigerian Civil War. However, it did not end the hostilities. For two more years, the war lingered on with a blockade of Biafra resulting in the deaths of millions due to starvation.