Today we remember the Biafra war, this is not from a place of hunger for war but respect for the fallen heroes of war. Those who gave their lives for an independent nation the believed in. Their sacrifices was not in vein.
As we take out time to remember our fallen heroes, here are few things you need to know about the war.
- The anti Igbo pogrom that happened in the north saw the death of 8,000 and 30,000 Igbos. It degenerated after Major Kaduna Nzeogwu killed the Sardauna of Sokoto in a bloody coup. In retaliation, the northerners started to kill the Igbos.
- Over 1 million Igbos fled the Northern Region into the East leaving behind their homes, businesses, wealth, in some cases children. This was just the beginning of many losses.
- Gen. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu did not start the war, the Nigerian troops, led by General Yakubu Gowon did. After Ojukwu declared the secession, General Gowon sent troops into Biafra land for a police action he presumed to last for a few weeks. That was how the war started and raged on for three brutal years. This makes us wonder, What Would Have Been If Biafra Won The War
- At the beginning of the war, the Biafran Army was about 3000 men, as the war progressed, the number reached 30,000 men. 10 Remarkable Biafra Soldiers During The Civil War
- In October 1967, Biafra Capital, Enugu fell to the Nigerian army. For a long time, Enugu was formidable, it was almost impossible to penetrate, until October 1967. As the war progressed, Major Achuzie of the Biafra Army recaptured Enugu from the Nigerian troops.
- The Nigerian government destroyed ALL airports in Biafra land. The Igbos rebuilt from scratch all airports we see today
- According to reports, hunger, malnutrition, diseases killed more people during the war than bullets and bombs
- The great Britain, the united states, the soviet union, and Egypt were some of the countries that backed Nigeria, while France, China and Israel backed Biafra
- The Uli airstrip was kept secret from the Nigerian forces for 3 complete years, it is still one of the largest non-combatant airlifts of any kind ever carried out.
- The Ogbunigwe built during the war is still available till date.
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