By: Daniel Okonkwo
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War, remains one of the most devastating conflicts in African history. The war, which lasted from 1967 to 1970, resulted in the loss of millions of lives, particularly among the Igbo people. To this day, it remains a deep wound in Nigeria’s history, with many unresolved grievances and narratives that continue to shape the country’s socio-political space.
The events leading up to the war began with the January 15, 1966 coup, often labeled an “Igbo Coup” due to the ethnic background of some key figures. However, former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has refuted this claim, stating that the coup was not exclusively Igbo-led.
According to Babangida’s book, A Journey in Service, Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, who led the coup, was Igbo only in name. Born and raised in Kaduna, he spoke fluent Hausa and identified more with the northern region. The book suggests that the coup had a nationalistic intent and was not driven by ethnic interests. The plotters aimed to release Chief Obafemi Awolowo from prison and install him as Prime Minister.
Furthermore, several non-Igbo officers participated in the coup, including Major Adewale Ademoyega, Captain Ganiyu Adeleke, and Lieutenants Fola Oyewole and Olafimihan. Additionally, some senior Igbo officers were also victims, such as Lt-Col. Arthur Chinyelu Unegbe was executed by Major Chris Anuforo. The coup was ultimately crushed by Major John Obienu, an Igbo officer, further weakening the narrative that it was an ethnic uprising.
Following the coup and counter-coup of July 1966, Nigeria spiraled into ethnic violence. The massacre of Igbos in the North led to the secession of Biafra under Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu. The Nigerian government, under General Yakubu Gowon, saw this as a rebellion and launched a military campaign to reintegrate Biafra.
The federal government imposed a blockade on Biafra, which resulted in a catastrophic famine. Over three million Igbos, including countless children, perished due to starvation, marking one of the darkest moments in Nigeria’s history. The international community largely remained passive, although relief efforts attempted to mitigate the suffering. The war ended in January 1970 with Gowon’s famous “No Victor, No Vanquished” speech, yet the scars of the conflict have never truly healed.
Despite the rhetoric of reconciliation, Igbos faced severe economic and political marginalization after the war. The most infamous of these policies was the financial decree that allowed Biafrans to reclaim only 20 pounds of their bank savings, regardless of their actual deposits. This economic strangulation stifled Igbo recovery and deepened post-war grievances.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo, then the Minister of Finance, justified this policy, arguing that Biafran soldiers had looted Nigerian banks. However, no concrete evidence supported this claim, leaving many Igbos to believe it was a calculated move to keep them economically disadvantaged. The policy remains a contentious topic, symbolizing the structural injustices faced by the Igbo people.
Over fifty years after the war, its impact is still felt. The southeastern region of Nigeria continues to struggle with economic disparities, political exclusion, and lingering distrust in the central government. Many survivors and their descendants suffer from intergenerational trauma, with families still unable to fully recount their experiences due to the pain and suffering endured.
The Nigerian Civil War also set a precedent for using starvation as a weapon of war, an act now considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. Yet, no one has been held accountable for the deliberate policies that led to the deaths of millions.
The Nigerian Civil War was not just a conflict; it was a systematic attempt to suppress a people. The misrepresentation of the 1966 coup, the indiscriminate killings, the economic sabotage, and the humanitarian catastrophe of the war all contributed to the suffering of the Igbo people. While official narratives have often downplayed or rewritten history, the scars remain evident. Until there is true reconciliation and acknowledgment of past injustices, the wounds inflicted by the war will continue to shape the future.
Daniel Okonkwo Profile International Human Rights Advocate.
