THE BIAFRAN WAR The Biafran War (1967–1970) was a devastating Nigerian Civil War that resulted from the secession of the Republic of Biafra, largely populated by the Igbo people, who felt marginalized and threatened by the federal government and ethnic violence following a 1966 military coup. The conflict was a response to ethno-religious riots, a counter-coup, and the persecution of Igbos in northern Nigeria. The war led to the deaths of over a million people and ended with the defeat of Biafra and its reintegration into Nigeria. Causes of the War Ethnic Conflict: Pre-existing tensions and rivalries between Nigeria's major ethnic groups, particularly the Igbo and Hausa-Fulani, fueled much of the conflict. Political Instability: A military coup in January 1966 and a subsequent counter-coup in July 1966 by Northern officers destabilized the fragile political structure. Persecution of Igbos: Ethno-religious riots and mass killings of Igbos in Northern Nigeria after the counter-coup created a sense of widespread persecution and a feeling of insecurity. Economic Factors: Control over Nigeria's lucrative oil production in the Niger Delta was a strategic and economic factor driving the conflict. The Secession In response to the rising violence and discrimination, the military governor of the Eastern Region, Lt. Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, declared the independence of the Republic of Biafra in 1967. This move was a nationalist aspiration for the Biafran people, who believed they could no longer coexist with the federal government. The War and Its Aftermath The Nigerian government launched a military campaign to reclaim the territory, resulting in the Nigerian Civil War. The war, which saw foreign support for both sides—including the Soviet Union for Nigeria and France for Biafra—resulted in immense suffering. The conflict lasted until January 1970, when Biafra surrendered, and the region was reincorporated into Nigeria. The war's legacy continues to shape Nigerian society and politics today.