Biafra

BIAFRA

Origin

Biafra took its name from the bight of Biafra, the Atlantic bay to its south. The inhabitants were mostly the Igbo people led the secession due to economic, ethnic, cultural and religious tensions among the various people of Nigeria. Other groups that constituted the republic were Efik, Ibibio, Annang, Ejagham, Eket, Ibeno and the Ijaw amongst others.

The secession of the Biafra region was the primary cause of the Nigerian Civil war, also known as Biafra war.  It was formally recognized by Gabon, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Tanzania and Zambia. Other nations which did not give official recognition, but provided support and assistance to Biafra include Israel, France, Portugal, Spain, Rhodesia, Norway, South Africa and the Vatican city. Biafra also received aid from non-state actors, including joint church aid. Holy Ghost father of Ireland, Caritas international Markpress and U.S. Catholic relief services.

DESCRIPTION

The country, Biafra was an almost rhomboid shaped territory which was demarcated to the west by the lower reaches of the river Niger and its Delta, to the east by the obudu Plateau and the highlands of Oban and to the north by an administrative boundary following approximately, the 7⁰ N. latitude. The total area is over 29,400 square mile. Thus Biafra, almost as big as Gambia and Sierra Leone put together, is bigger than Togo Or Rwanda and Burundi combined, and is four time the size of the Republic of Israel.

Biafra is wholly located within the tropics, being only a few degrees north of the equator. But the climate, although humid at some period of the year, is on the whole not too hot. Monthly average temperature range between 70⁰ F and 90⁰ F, and average rainfall from about 60 inches in the north to about 140 inches in the Niger Delta. Like the rest of West Africa, the territory has two main seasons, namely a rainy and dry season

The war

The Federal Government launched “police measures” to annex the earthen region on 6 July 1967. The FG initial efforts were unsuccessful; the Biafra’s successfully launched their own offensive, occupying areas in the Mid-western region in August 1967. By October 1967, the FG had regained the land after intense fighting in September 1968, the federal army planned what Gowon described as the “final offensive” initially the final offensive was neutralized by Biafra troops. In the latter stages, a southern FG offensive managed t break through the fierce resistance.

During the war there were great shortages of food and medicine throughout Biafra, due largely to the Nigerian government’s blockade of the region as suggested in a number of arguments by leaders of the Nigerian government.

Anthony Enahora stated that “there are various ways of fighting a war you might starve your enemy into submission, or you might kill him on the battlefield” Obafemi Awolowo said. “All is fair in war, and starvation is one of the weapons of war and I don’t see why we should feed our enemies in order for them to fight harder”.

Many volunteer bodies organized the Biafra Airlift which provided blockade-breaking relief flights into Biafra, carrying food and medicines in, and later provided means of evacuation for refugee children. On 30 June 1969, the Nigerian government banned all Red Cross aid t Biafra; two weeks later it allowed medical supplies through the front lines, but restricted food supplies. Later in October 1969, Ojukwu appealed to the United Nations to mediate a Cease-fire

The federal government called for Biafra’s surrender. In December, the FG managed to cut Biafra in half, primarily by the efforts of 3 Marina Commando Division of the Nigerian Army, led by then-colonel Benjamin Adekunle. Popularly called the Black Scorpion and later by Olusegun Obasanjo. Ojukwu fled to Ivory Coast, leaving his chief of staff, Phillip Effiong to act as the officer administering the government. Effiong called for a cease fire on 12 January and submitted to the FG. By then, more than one million people had died in battle or from starvation. Biafra was reabsorbed into Nigeria on 15 January.   (Wikipedia)