Eric Patrick
Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.), has reiterated that the Nigerian Civil War—commonly referred to as the Biafran War—was not a campaign against the Igbo people, but a necessary step to prevent the disintegration of the country.
Speaking in an interview with Arise News, Gowon explained that the conflict, which lasted from 1967 to 1970, was triggered by the Eastern Region’s declaration of secession, not by any ethnic hostility toward the Igbo.
“I had a duty, as a loyal Nigerian, to keep the country united,” Gowon stated. “From the very beginning, I made it clear that this was not a war against the Igbos. It was about preventing Nigeria from falling apart.”
He further emphasized that federal troops were under strict orders to protect civilians—particularly women and children—and to only engage with those who had taken up arms against the state.
“The casualty figures often quoted—running into the millions—are exaggerated,” he said. “We also made numerous attempts to send humanitarian aid to the Biafran side, but those efforts were repeatedly blocked or rejected.”
Gowon defended the actions of his administration, asserting that he had no choice but to act to preserve national unity. “If I had to choose between letting the country disintegrate and preserving it, I knew where my responsibility lay. My loyalty was to Nigeria.”
The Nigerian Civil War broke out on July 6, 1967, after then-Military Governor of the Eastern Region, Lt. Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, declared the region’s independence as the Republic of Biafra, citing ethnic violence and political marginalisation, particularly against the Igbo people.
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The federal government under Gowon rejected the secession, leading to a brutal three-year conflict. Though Biafra mounted a fierce resistance, it suffered devastating humanitarian consequences, including famine induced by a federal blockade.
While estimates vary, it is widely believed that between one and three million people—mostly civilians—died during the war, many from starvation and disease.
The war ended in January 1970 with Biafra’s surrender and the federal government’s announcement of a policy of reconciliation under the slogan “No victor, no vanquished.”
Despite the passage of more than five decades, the war continues to evoke strong emotions and remains one of the most defining and painful chapters in Nigeria’s history.