USA Africa Dialogue Series - History.com: 1970 Biafra surrenders to Nigeria

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/biafra-surrenders-to-nigeria

1970:

Biafra surrenders to Nigeria

"The Republic of Biafra, a breakaway state of eastern Nigeria, surrenders to Nigeria after three years of costly fighting.

In 1960, Nigeria gained independence from Britain. Six years later, the Muslim Hausas in northern Nigeria began massacring the Christian Igbos in the region, prompting tens of thousands of Igbos to flee to the east, where their people were the dominant ethnic group. The Igbos doubted that Nigeria's oppressive military government would allow them to develop, or even survive, so on May 30, 1967, Lieutenant Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu and other non-Igbo representatives of the area established the Republic of Biafra, comprising several states of Nigeria.

After diplomatic efforts by Nigeria failed to reunite the country, war between Nigeria and Biafra broke out in July 1967. Ojukwu's forces made some initial advances, but Nigeria's superior military might gradually reduced Biafran territory. The state lost its oil fields–its main source of revenue–and without the funds to import food, an estimated one million of its civilians died as a result of severe malnutrition. On January 11, Nigerian forces captured the provincial capital of Owerri, one of the last Biafran strongholds, and Ojukwu was forced to flee to the Ivory Coast. Four days later, Biafra surrendered to Nigeria."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGSRa6KE_rg

Major-General Gowon and Colonel Obasanjo Accept Biafra's Surrender - January 1970

"This is the official surrender ceremony that ended the Nigeria-Biafra civil war. At Dodan Barracks the Nigerian head of State Major-General Yakubu Gowon shook hands with surviving senior Biafran officers that were presented to him by Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo. Obsanjo said the Biafran officers were reporting for "reassignment and redeployment". Gowon greeted the leader of Biafra's delegation Phillip Effiong with the words "how are you my friend?"

Effiong closed his surrender statement with "we are loyal Nigerian citizens, and accept the authority of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria...the Republic of Biafra hereby ceases to exist..." (applause)"

Funmi Tofowomo Okelola

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