The Nigerian Civil War and Biafra

Nigerian Civil War Leaders

• General Yakubu Gowon led the Nigerian Federal Government during the Nigerian Civil War.

Nationalist Aspirations of Biafra

• The Igbo people, represented by the Republic of Biafra, sought to secede from Nigeria and establish their own nation.

Immediate Causes of the War (1966)

• The assassination of General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, a southern Igbo, by a group of northern officers on July 29, 1966, led to the immediate outbreak of the war.
• The subsequent massacre of thousands of Igbos in the northern region further escalated the conflict.

Strategic Role of the Niger Delta Region

• The Niger Delta region, which is situated in the southern part of Nigeria, played a vital strategic role due to its lucrative oil production.

Factors Leading to the Nigerian Civil War

• Ethnic and religious tensions between the Hausa-Fulani people of the north and the Igbo people of the southeast contributed to the war.
• Economic and political rivalries between the different regions, fueled by the discovery of oil in the Niger Delta, also played a significant role in leading to the conflict.

Test your knowledge of the Nigerian Civil War and the secessionist state of Biafra in this quiz. Explore key events, leaders, and historical facts surrounding this significant conflict in Nigerian history.