THERE WAS ONCE A COUNTRY! (BIAFRA)
Modern-day Nigeria has been the site of numerous kingdoms and tribal states for millennia. The modern state originated from British colonial rule beginning in the 19th century, and the merging of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate in 1914. The British set up administrative and legal structures whilst practicing indirect rule through traditional chiefdoms. Nigeria became a formally independent federation in 1960, and a republic in 1963, subsequently plunging into a civil war from 1967–1970.
As a result of the unnecessary continuous killings of Southern Biafran Christians who were residing at the Northern part of Nigeria, by the Nothern Moslems: Biafra declares its independence from Nigeria, Nigeria does not recognise this and invades Biafra, thus beginning a Civil War!
- Biafra will ever live not as a dream, but as the crystalization of the cherished hopes of a people, who see to the establishment of this territory, a last hope for peace and security. – Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, 15th January, 1970.
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Nigerian Independence Meeting 1960
Andrew Gilchrist, British Consul General and Nigerian students Ola Idawu and Charles Okpala hold a Jr. press conference with Chicago Highschool newspaper editors just days before Nigeria’s Independence September 28, 1960
Dance Group Girls, During Nigerian Republic Celebration 1963
Nnamdi Azikiwe at the Nigerian High Commission Office in London, Aug. 28, 1969, as he urged Biafra to abandon its fight against the federal Nigerian government.
Balewa Bello Azikiwe
Dr M Okpara, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Solomon Lar, Jim, Melford Okilo, Aper Aku, Prof. Kenneth Dike
Awolowo Bello Azikiwe
Judge James S. Watson with Alain Locke, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Mbadiwe, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Clarence Holt.
Awolowo (left) Queen Elizabeth (center)
Obafemi Awolowo
Obafemi Awolowo, family and friends, at a Thanksgiving Service; shortly after being granted “State Pardon” and released from Calabar Prison, in the Eastern region, which is under Odumegwu Ojukwu’s control.
Malcolm X, Visting Nigeria 1964
Alhaji Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto and the premier of Northern Nigeria) being interviewed on TV prior to his departure on pilgrimage to Mecca.
Yakubu Gowan, Fomer Nigerian Head of State
General Gowon, (Center). Former Nigerian Head of State, August 1966 – 29 July 1975
Gowon and Ojukwu, During Aburi Accord to avoid the War.
During the war, in addition to the Aburi (Ghana) Accord that tried to avoid the war, there was also the Niamey (Niger Republic) Peace Conference under President Hamani Diori (1968) and the OAU sponsored Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Conference (1968) under the Chairmanship of Emperor Haile Selassie. This was the final effort by General Ojukwu and General Gowon to settle the conflict at the Conference Table.
General Odumegwu Ojukwu, at Aburi Accord meeting to avoid the War
Yakubu Gowon (Right), Former Nigerian Head of State
Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Former Head of State of Biafra
Fleeing Biafrans During Biafran Civil War 1967-1970
1000 demonstrators protest at 48th Street and Park Avenue in New York, Aug. 18, 1968. The marchers came from an interfaith service at St. Thomas Episcopal Church at 53rd St. and F street
A Biafran doctor hands out cups containing the daily ration of powdered milk to a line of children at a refugee camp in Anwa, Biafra, Aug. 5, 1968
A federal Nigerian soldier holding an anti-tank bazooka is seen covering the end of the Aba-Umuahia road where Biafran troops hold positions, Sept. 21, 1968.
Boxer Dick Tiger of Biafra
The destruction of Nigeria’s Second Division convoy at Abagana by a Biafran ambush party
Original Caption: An Ibo soldier captured by Nigerian troops near Owerri in Biafra throws up his hands in anguish as his captors tell him he will die as a traitor, Sept. 1968.
Nigerians Making phone calls at the phone booth during the war.
Yakubu Gowan (left) Obafemi Awolowo (right)
Head of state of Nigeria General Yakubu Gowon and friends at a Polo match. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)
Biafra Declaration 30th may 1967, by Lt. Col Odumegwu Ojukwu, as a result of the senseless killings of the Biafran people.
General Ojukwu, Former Head of State of Republic of Biafra
OWERRI, NIGERIA – JANUARY 31: FILE, Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Former Biafran head of state, addressing a joint session of the consultative assembly and house at Owerri, announcing the issue of a new currency and new stamps and repeating past history to encourage them to new depths of support, on January 31, 1968 in Owerri, Nigeria.
Obasanjo in Aba during the war
General Ojukwu addressing the press during the War.
Former Head of State of Republic of Biafra
General Ojukwu Leader of Biafra Inspecting the Biafran Military. Ojukwu and the Biafra RAP built airports and roads, refined petroleum, chemicals and materials, designed and built light and heavy equipment, researched on chemical and biological weapons, rocketry and guidance systems, invented new forms of explosives, tried new forms of food processing and technology.
Biafran Former Head of State Ojukwu, listens to his army commander alexander madiebo (centre) earing a peak cap
Biafran women and children outside White House in an effort to see first lady Lady Bird Johnson Oct 5 1968 about starving countrymen back home in war-torn Biafra
Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu at Nigerian-Biafran peace talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where the Emperor Haile Selassie is chairman of the committte Aug 5 1968
Company of Biafran soldiers leave their positions to advance on a Nigerian position 100 yards away during the Aba offensive, Aug. 1968.
Federal Nigerian police push back crowds of demonstrators outside the French Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria, Sept. 16, 1968 – They were demonstrating against French assistance to Biafra
John Lennon & Yoko Ono displaying letter from Lennon to British PM Harold Wilson, Nov. 25, 1969. The letter explains John Lennon’s reasons for returning his Order of the British Empire, OBE medal – British support of America in Vietnam & involvement/support of Nigeria against Biafra
Jubilant Nigerians in the capital city of Lagos cheer as they read of the surrender of the rebel Biafran forces, Jan. 12, 1970.
Major General Yakubu Gowon at Dodan barracks, stands before a map of Nigeria as he tells reporters at a press conference that the war will be over in 4-8 weeks – Sept 13 1968. Unfortunately, he got the surprise he didn’t expect, fighting a 3 year War from 1967-1970.
General Ojukwu stands before a map during the war.
General Ojukwu stands before a map during the war, addressing the press.
General Ojukwu stands before a map during the war.
New head of state Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu in Enugu shortly after the declaration of independence and formation of the new state of Biafra, June 10 1967 takes the oath of office.
Wounded soldier attended by Igbo medic Biafra Nigeria 1968.
9 yr old Igbo albino clutching an empty corned beef tin Biafra, Nigeria. April 1968. Why has there been an outcry against brutalities committed in Rwanda, Darfur, Liberia, South Africa, etc….and yet no one has been held accountable for the atrocities deliberately committed against these innocent children?
A young mother breast feeds her five-month-old baby boy while holding her starving four-year-old daughter, near Anwa, Biafra, Aug. 5, 1968.The daughter died a few hours later.
Belgian Mercenary Marc Goosens Killed during a Nigerian attack on Onitsa, Biafra Nov 1968. This was dramatically captured on film.
Catholic Mission Food Distribution Biafra Nigeria April 1968
It breaks my heart to recall the huge sacrifices that these young men made for a cause that they believed in. The lame leading the blind.
Cinematographer Raymond Depardon Biafra, Nigeria August 1968 by Gilles Caron.
Left: Major Muhammadu Buhari, Middle: Col. D. Bamigboye. Inspecting the front during the civil war. 1969
2nd from Left: Col. D. Bamigboye, 3rd from right: Major Muhammadu Buhari (standing akimbo). Inspecting the front during the civil war. 1969
War machine. Benjamin Adekunle, Yakubu Gowon
War machine, Benjamin Adekunle a.k.a (Black Scorpion)
War machine, Benjamin Adekunle (center) a.k.a (Black Scorpion)
War machine, Benjamin Adekunle a.k.a (Black Scorpion)
War machine, Benjamin Adekunle a.k.a (Black Scorpion) meeting with the Press
War machine, Benjamin Adekunle a.k.a (Black Scorpion)
The Genocide
Igbo officer addressing one of his dead soldiers Biafra Nigeria April 1968
When you look at these photos you will realize that the Biafra story is yet to be fully told.
Igbo Soldier Biafra Nigeria Nov 1968 by Gilles Caron
He is probably a teenager or in his early 20s. How greed and raw wickedness deprived so many of their youthful innocence.
Igbo ‘soldier’ carrying a wounded comrade Biafra Nigeria April 1968
These are boys…and yet when we talk about African child soldiers no one ever seems to refer to the first…Biafran boys!
Igbo Soldiers, Biafra Nigeria April 1968
Igbo Soldiers, Biafra Nigeria April 1968.
Igbo Soldiers retreating, Biafra, Nigeria April 1968.
Igbo Soldiers, Biafra Nigeria April 1968.
Igbo Victim of the civil war, Biafra, Nigeria, July 1968.
Makeshift Ambulance on the frontline Biafra Nigeria April 1968.
Sixteen-year-old Ibo boy, Biafra, Nigeria, 1968
Starving Igbos, Biafra, Nigeria July 1968
Wife of a Nigerian Officer burned alive Biafra Nigeria April 1968.
The Biafran Cabinet at a Church service, on the extreme right is the late Sir Louis Mbanefo- former Supreme Court Judge and Judge of the World Court.
1968 – A Biafran soldier in the bush on alert before the invasion of Abagana.
Akintunde Akinsehinwa (Left) Olusegun Obasanjo (Right).
Olusegun Obasanjo (Right).
Babangida (Left) Major General Tunde Idiagbon (Center) Murtala Muhammed (Right)
Theophilus Danjuma (Left) Major General Tunde Idiagbon (Center) Murtala Muhammed (Right)
Olusegun Obasanjo (sitting left) Murtala Muhammed (sitting right).
Muhammadu Buhari (center)
Theophilus Danjuma (left) Murtala Muhammed (center) Olusegun Obasanjo (right)
1969, at parade to celebrate the Second Independence Anniversary of Biafra; General Effiong is fourth from left; General Ojukwu, Former Head of State, is fifth from left.
1969, Major General Philip Efiong returning from a visit to a refugee camp in Nto Edino in present-day Akwa Ibom State.
At the end of the Civil War; second from left is General Effiong, third is Colonel O. Obasanjo.
August 29, 1968 – Folk singer Joan Baez and rock singer Jimi Hendrix chat between acts at a Biafran Relief Benefit show at a place in Manhattan called Steve Paul’s Scene.
Biafran child soldier said to be about 13, and one of the Onumonus, and former French Legionnaire Rolf Steiner awaiting orders.
1970, initial meeting between both sides
at the end of the War; from left to right:
General Efiong, Prof. Eni Njoku, Colonel
Obasanjo.
End of the Nigerian civil war. Major-General Gowon (left) shakes hands with Lt-Colonel Phillip Effiong (right).
End of the War; In the true spirit of African reconciliation, kola nut is shared; General Efiong, extreme right, takes a piece.
Owerri, Biafra -Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu, Former leader of secessionist Biafra, announces introduction of new currency and postage stamps, officially issued on January 29th 1968.
Nigerian Troops firing artillery gun in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, during the Nigerian Civil War. Col Benjamin Adekunle is seen here with left hand on the artillery gun.
Biafra The will for Independence.
Biafran soldiers at the frontline during the Nigerian Civil War.
Courageous and Determined Biafran Women, Training During the War.
Biafran Hero Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
Ojukwu back in Nigeria after exile
Ojukwu and Gowan Meets
Ojukwu and two of his kids in Ivory Coast During Exile
Ojukwu with Stella Onyeador in Ivory Coast During Exile
General & Mrs Philip Efiong, Umuahia, 1967/68
Tafewa Belawa and Family
Yakubu Gowon, Victoria and Child
Olusegun Obasanjo and Family
Ibrahim Babangida and Child
Muhammadu Buhari and Young Wife
Muhammadu Buhari and Family
Odumegwu Ojukwu and Family
Murtala Mohammed and Family
Murtala Muhammed’s (Supreme Military Counsel)
Nigerian Coup Plotters
Gen. Obasanjo Meets Un Ambassador Andrew Young, Joseph Nanven Garba following behind.
Olusegun Obasanjo
Obasanjo and Jimmy Carter, in Lagos Nigeria
Obong (Major General) Philip Efiong, Akankang
Ibiono Ibom, in Ikot Ekpene, 2002
Legendary WarLord Col. Joe Achizia
Odumegwu Ojukwu and Wife Bianca Ojukwu
Odumegwu Ojukwu and Family
Odumegwu Ojukwu and Wife, Bianca Ojukwu
Odumegwu Ojukwu and Wife, Bianca Ojukwu
Eze Igbo Gbulu Gbulu, Odumegwu Ojukwu
“For you (Igbo and Eastern Nigerians), I abandoned all ease and embraced pain. For you I impoverish myself to buy your protection. For you, I walked every battlefront to assure your welfare. For you, I stood when every other person crouched. For you, I endured 13 years of bitter exile. For you, I endured 10 months of maximum security prison. For you, I endured priestly poverty. For you, I continue to struggle…
What I have said is not harsh, it is only the naked truth and it reflect only the intensity of the love I harbour for my people.” General Dim Christopher Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ikemba of Nnewi, Dikedioramma, Eze Igbo Gburugburu, Biafran Warlord and a prominent Nigerian politician.
Biafran.org 