The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War was a war fought to counter the secession of Biafra (then Eastern part of Nigeria consisting mainly of the Igbo people) from Nigeria.
It lasted for 30 months (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970) with millions of casualties on both sides. The war did not happen overnight but certain events led to it.

Below are the events that led to the unfortunate war where thousands (both military and civilian) lost their lives.

1. Almagamation of 1914

In 1914, Southern Nigeria was joined with Northern
Nigeria Protectorate to form the single colony of Nigeria.
The unification was done for economic reasons rather
than political—Northern Nigeria Protectorate had
a budget deficit; and the colonial administration sought
to use the budget surpluses in Southern Nigeria to offset
this deficit.

This “marriage” was made without the consent of the
people, without a referendum but in the interest of the
colonialists. A system which would in the long run bring
about greed, hate, nepotism and tribalism amongst the
people of Nigeria.

2. 1946 Richards Constitution

The year 1946 saw the adoption of the Arthur Richard
Constitution which defined Nigeria, for the first time, in
terms of regions – thus dividing the still colonised
country into three main regions: the Northern, Western
and Eastern regions.

This is Nigeria’s “funniest” constitution which made a
centre weak but granting strength to the regions-in the
same country? This would have been the best time of
creating three independent countries instead of three
dependent ones.

3. 1962 Western Region’s State of Emergency and Obafemi Awolowo’s incarceration

The blatant support of Akintola’s unpopular government in
the West by the Balewa-led Federal Government was a
time bomb in the making. Declaring a state of emergency
in a whole Region when the imbroglio was only in the
House of Assembly was also a political gaffe by Balewa.
Awolowo’s imprisonment made the Federal Government
itself hated among the peoples of the Western Region,
who they believed was imprisoned on trumped-up
charges.

4. The Violent 1965 Western Regional Elections

The crisis over the struggle for political power during the
Western Regional elections of October 11, 1965 was the
last straw that broke the camel’s back which really
convinced the January boys of their military putsch on
the morning of January 15, 1966.
Balewa’s reluctance to step-in and declare a state of emergency when he should have, spiraled the events of January, 1966. As Emperor Nero watched as Rome burned, the Prime Minister fidgeted as the West descended to an incendiary state. And the rest as they say, is history.

5. January 15, 1966 Revolutionary Coup

Five majors led by Kaduna Nzeogwu (1937-1967) had
concluded their plans for the revolutionary coup as at
August, 1965, which was the mass annihilation of top
politicians and senior military officers in the country,
due to the loss of control of certain part of the country
and widespread corruption.

Whether the coup was Eastern favoured or not, it
brought into fore a united Northern Region in the Army,
regardless of tribe or religion.

Of the five majors, four were Easterners, while one, Adewale Ademoyega (1933-2007), was a Westerner. The new Head of State having dissolved the civilian government was an Easterner.

To install Awolowo, who was charged with corruption, as
Prime Minister and to create fourteen states for the
country was a confusion theory by the coup plotters.
Unfortunately for them, Ifeajuna thwarted their original
plan and fled to Ghana dressed as a woman. No action
was taken in the East and not a single shot was fired.
This convinced the Northern elements that the Igbos were
behind the killing of their leaders and officers. Hence, the
plan to get even began.

6. July 29, 1966 Northern Counter-Coup

Decree Number 34 of May 24, 1966 promulgated by Ironsi was the beginning of the end for him. The decree made the centre strong, thereby abolishing the powers granted to the regions. Interestingly, Nzeogwu, in an interview he granted in 1967, affirmed that Ironsi shot himself in the foot with that decree. Another mistake Ironsi did was the non-trial of the coup plotters of the January 15, 1966 carnage.

These caused a massive unrest in the Northern part of
the country as the Northerners had gone against
delimiting of regional powers as far back as 1959. In
June 1966, Ironsi began a tour of the country (never to
return to Lagos) and met with Northern elite, assuring
them of a united Nigeria.

Shehu Shagari and Richard Akinjide, surviving cabinet-
members of the First Republic, insisted that Aguiyi-Ironsi
took over power by force as against them handing over to
him. Whichever may be the case, the rise of Aguiyi-Ironsi
as Head of State raised fears in the hearts of the
northerners that the Igbos were all out for the total control
of the country. His infamous decree (an unfortunate
system we are now in, in the name of federal character)
which made an educated Igbo man to be eligible for civil
service in the educational-disadvantaged North raised
further fears and brought about the counter coup six
months later.

7. January 1967, Aburi Conference

With the counter-coup of July 29, 1966, the political
development of Nigeria’s federal structure took a
different turn. It was heightened even more by the fact
that the Eastern Regional Government in Enugu
immediately threatened secession if certain grievances
and demands were not met. The immediate concern of
the Federal Government, therefore, was for it to find
ways to appease the East so long as such concessions
were within the framework of one Nigeria.

But the Eastern Military Governor, Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu (1933-2011), refused to leave the
East for any meeting anywhere in Nigeria because, he
claimed, he was not safe outside the East. The Federal
Government too argued that the Nigerian leader should
also not go to the East for a meeting. His life, they also
claimed, was not safe there either. Tension mounted and
Lieutenant-General Joseph Arthur Ankrah (1915-1992) of
Ghana offered a neutral meeting place. The venue was
Aburi, Ghana.

The Aburi meeting started on January 4, 1967 and lasted
for two days. Those who attended the meeting included
Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, the then Head of the Federal
Military Government and the Military Governors of the
four regions: Lt. Col. Hassan Usman Katsina (1933-1995)
(North), Lt. Col. Robert Adeyinka Adebayo (b. 1928)
(West), Lt. Col. David Akpode Ejoor (b. 1932) (Mid-West)
and Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Ojukwu (East).

Aburi was significant for several reasons. First, that the
leaders met at all was an achievement in itself. But even
more tangible was the fact that the leaders agreed that
force would not be used to settle the “brothers’ palaver”.
There was also the question of the disposition of
Nigerian troops and the reorganization of the Army after
the second coup on July 29, 1966 and the subsequent
pogrom that followed in May and September.

Ojukwu claimed that Nigeria did not have a central
government since the country as a result of the second
coup and its aftermath resolved itself into three separate
sovereign areas; the Lagos-West-North Area, the Mid-
West Area and the East Area. But Gowon insisted that
Nigeria was still one nation, an entity composed of four
regions and a central government in Lagos.
Ojukwu out-witted Gowon in this meeting and insisted
some certain parts of the events not to be recorded.
Gowon acceded to most of Ojukwu’s demand. When he
(Gowon) got home and the Permanent Secretaries
highlighted the grave consequences of the agreement to
him, he reneged and Ojukwu seceded.

8. May 1967 Creation of Twelve States

When, on May 27, 1967, General Gowon announced that
Nigeria would be divided into more states, twelve in all.
Nigerians were jubilant as the minorities felt secured and
out of domination by the majority peoples within the former regions.

The Northern Region was broken into six states (North-Western, North-Central, North-Eastern, Benue-Plateau, Kano and Kwara), thereby cracking its monolithic posture. The East was broken into three, with the Ibo people having their own state (East-Central) and the non-Ibo “minority” peoples in the East two of their own states (Rivers and South-East). The Mid-West remained as it was. Some part of the Western Region was carved out and merged with the Federal Territory of Lagos to form Lagos State. What remained of the
Western Region became Western State.

The creation of more states in the country pushed the,
East-Central State, the Ibo heartland, into an interior
pocket, cut off from the coastal oil reserves and its two
seaports of Port-Harcourt and Calabar. Thus, the lack of
seaports for the East-Central State was not unique.
For the secessionists, the creation of more states was a
bombshell, a political reality which they refused to
accept or even believe. They began to speed up the
secession of the Eastern Region which would include
according to them, the two new states of Rivers and
South-East.

On May 30, 1967, Ojukwu proclaimed that “the territory
and Region known as Eastern Nigeria, together with her
continental shelves and territorial waters, shall henceforth be an independent sovereign state of the name and title The Republic of Biafra”.

Biafran national symbols must have taken months to
prepare, which implied that the Ojukwu was perhaps
committed to secession long before. Hence, he rejected
one peace move after another. Though the Federal
Government had her own share of the blames especially
its tardiness after Aburi, she did everything possible to
prevent the Nigerian balloon from bursting and to appease
the East to the extent that many Nigerians were doubting
whether the Federal Government was a sick dog that
could neither bark nor bite. Though, the secessionists
were defeated (after Ojukwu had fled) and Biafra
unconditionally surrendered and the secession ended, it
led to a senseless war for thirty months that has scarred
and marred the history of the nation. It has been forty-six
years the war ended, it still created a gulf between the
Igbos and the rest of the country as seen in the recent
agitation for Biafra.

If you enjoyed the article, you can share your comments below. Also, you can also share other events you think might have led to the Civil War. Thank you.

Source: www.historyvilleng.com/2016/11/18/8-great-events-that-led-to-the-nigerian-civil-war/

Hmmm

I don think we need this

We should bring what will unite than what will drift us apart

Many of us on nairaland didn't witness the civil war

Let's heal the wound

That's why anytime I ear Ipob or that criminal in kuje talk of war

I come down on him very hard

k

Is that all?...nothing new...let's move on!!!

pathetic mtchwww

sarrki:
Hmmm

I don think we need this

We should bring what will unite than what will drift us apart

Many of us on nairaland didn't witness the civil war

Let's heal the wound

That's why anytime I ear Ipob or that criminal in kuje talk of war

I come down on him very hard

I ask u what has changed, u talk about unity but the buhari u support is an agent of division.

Unity in Nigeria can only be possible after the ouster of buhari and the entrance of a civilized, moderate intelligent leader.

Tell them where they are coming from, so they know which direction to go. Don't mind sarrki.

There was nothing revolutionary about the January 15, 1966 coup. Some mutinous members of the armed forces just plotted a badly skewed coup.

Their actions that night was the chief cause of the civil war. You don't kill people's kinsmen and expect a hug in return.

By the way, people should stop peddling the lie that the boys wanted to install Awolowo as president. There was never a plan like that. They wanted power like their colleagues in other African nations.

bejeiodus:
There was nothing revolutionary about the January 15, 1966 coup. Some mutinous members of the armed forces just plotted a badly skewed coup.

Their actions that night was the chief cause of the civil war. You don't kill people's kinsmen and expect a hug in return.

By the way, people should stop peddling the lie that the boys wanted to install Awolowo as president. There was never a plan like that. They wanted power like their colleagues in other African nations.

Helep me tell them.

.

The creation of the 12 states instantly started the war. It also effectively abolished federalism in Nigeria uptill today.

bejeiodus:
There was nothing revolutionary about the January 15, 1966 coup. Some mutinous members of the armed forces just plotted a badly skewed coup.

Their actions that night was the chief cause of the civil war. You don't kill people's kinsmen and expect a hug in return.

By the way, people should stop peddling the lie that the boys wanted to install Awolowo as president. There was never a plan like that. They wanted power like their colleagues in other African nations.

why did subsequent bloody coups not result to wars since "people's kinsmen" were killed?

bonechamberlain:
I ask u what has changed, u talk about unity but the buhari u support is an agent of division.

Unity in Nigeria can only be possible after the ouster of buhari and the entrance of a civilized, moderate intelligent leader.

Gbam. Buhari has done a lot more harm to the unity of the country with his unguarded statements than he has made efforts to unite us (if at all).

sarrki:
Hmmm

I don think we need this

We should bring what will unite than what will drift us apart

Many of us on nairaland didn't witness the civil war

Let's heal the wound

That's why anytime I ear Ipob or that criminal in kuje talk of war

I come down on him very hard

We need this because history might repeat itself. This time around Niger deltans would be fully involved.

.

So true

Knowledge of history is very very important. Mischievous people always want to hide the truth. Whoever removed history from secondary school subject is either mischievous(which is more like it) or very ignorant. Jagaban called for its restoration at the launching of a book on Buhari--which was history essentially.

If anyone disputes the points listed above let him share a more factual history.

Noneroone:
why did subsequent bloody coups not result to wars since "people's kinsmen" were killed?

i luv ur question

OP thank u for this historic summary. Any slowpoke like Sarrki that refused to understand the aim of this post is really gullible. One Nigeria is dead and that's a fact. After the civil war, Igbos were given 20 pounds regardless of how many million one was worth before the war. That act was achieved by the ignorant Yoruba leaders who thought they had found a sustainable alliance with the Hausa leaders. The hausas' have ruled us for more than 30 years and their states are one of the poorest. Yet a stupid goat herding fortunate internet literate Hausa guy will come here and say rubbish about other tribes esp Igbos. I'm Igbo and I know that the problem of my people is a selfish greed to make as much money as possible. It has become an Achilles heel to our prospect in attaining political power. Forgive me for digressing a bit with insulting comments to other tribes, it really pisses me off. But I really don't mean the disrespect to good folks. It's only for the fools among them. Igbos will never forget the manslaughter of the civil war. Igbos will never forget the death of our children killed by kwashiokor and malnutrition. Igbos will never forget that after the peaceful resolution of the civil war, nothing good was begotten by them. Igbos will never forget that the yorubas' and the hausas' dislike them for their inherent knack for making money and accumulating wealth, as well as skillful and creative ways of defrauding innocent folks. One Nigeria is dead. We need young, bright, selfless minds and personalities to lead us into a better future. But, if we keep voting in the old brigands because we are so comfortable with enslavement and afraid of the sacrifices and cost of revolution, or because of the quest for ethnic superiority which keeps blinding us to attain/demand for good servitude from our leaders, we will never be able to imagine the benefits and self-complacence in realizing that the prize of a struggle can been won.

Noneroone:
The creation of the 12 states instantly started the war. It also effectively abolished federalism in Nigeria uptill today.

And what about the decree made by Ironsi that introduced the unitary system? It entrenched federalism right?

Lol, hypocrisy in this country sha. Smh

sanandreas:



We need this because history might repeat itself. This time around Niger deltans would be fully involved.

But you're only one man. Who are the Niger Deltans you're speaking on behalf of?

Stop foaming in the mouth, and go hustle. A busy man has no woes to blame on his neighbors.

Noneroone:
why did subsequent bloody coups not result to wars since "people's kinsmen" were killed?

Perpetrators of subsequent bloody coups were quickly rounded up, tried and shot. Ironsi's vacillation between punishing the January 15 boys and pardoning them was the reason why the July 29 coup was staged.

coptic:


But you're only one man. Who are the Niger Deltans you're speaking on behalf of?

Stop foaming in the mouth, and go hustle. A busy man has no woes to blame on his neighbors.

Thrash you are just being rile for nothing. T

slevin1:
OP thank u for this historic summary. Any slowpoke like Sarrki that refused to understand the aim of this post is really gullible. One Nigeria is dead and that's a fact. After the civil war, Igbos were given 20 pounds regardless of how many million one was worth before the war. That act was achieved by the ignorant Yoruba leaders who thought they had found a sustainable alliance with the Hausa leaders. The hausas' have ruled us for more than 30 years and their states are one of the poorest. Yet a stupid goat herding fortunate internet literate Hausa guy will come here and say rubbish about other tribes esp Igbos. I'm Igbo and I know that the problem of my people is a selfish greed to make as much money as possible. It has become an Achilles heel to our prospect in attaining political power. Forgive me for digressing a bit with insulting comments to other tribes, it really pisses me off. But I really don't mean the disrespect to good folks. It's only for the fools among them. Igbos will never forget the manslaughter of the civil war. Igbos will never forget the death of our children killed by kwashiokor and malnutrition. Igbos will never forget that after the peaceful resolution of the civil war, nothing good was begotten by them. Igbos will never forget that the yorubas' and the hausas' dislike them for their inherent knack for making money and accumulating wealth, as well as skillful and creative ways of defrauding innocent folks. One Nigeria is dead. We need young, bright, selfless minds and personalities to lead us into a better future. But, if we keep voting in the old brigands because we are so comfortable with enslavement and afraid of the sacrifices and cost of revolution, or because of the quest for ethnic superiority which keeps blinding us to attain/demand for good servitude from our leaders, we will never be able to imagine the benefits and self-complacence in realizing that the prize of a struggle can been won.

Why do I get the feeling that you're a good guy who has been fed truth tinged with lies?

You know why the north is "poor" like you claim? Because the leaders only amass wealth for themselves. The typical Nigerian leader only remembers to fix the roads because they are afraid of death, not because they care about the poor and downtrodden.

As for Biafra and all the loses incurred, I'm really sorry for the lives lost. But, blame it all on Ojukwu, the very man who caused innocents to die fighting his war of greed.

Your problem is not one nigeria; it is selfish individuals who lack foresight in every sphere of life. And those are the dunces that rule over us.

Excellent article. Number 4 is particularly interesting considering that many Nigerians believe that the first coup plotters were blood thirsty murderers who were also Igbo supremacists. This goes to show that they were true patriots who really wanted their country to improve. If we had people like that in Nigeria today, this country would be so much better off. What a shame...

true

if you ask me;
1. The amalgamation of 1914
2. The 1966 Nzeogwu coup
3. The counter coup later that year
4. The pogrom that took the lives of thousands of
Igbos
5. The failure of the Gowon government to keep the
terms of the Aburi accord.

The Igbos felt insecured with the Nigerian state after thousands of them were ruthlessly murdered in the northern part of the country so they felt a need for a separate state.

For me,the biggest reason why the war took place was none other than the fact that the first coup plotters were not punished.You killed Premiers of The Northern and Western region but the premier from your region wasn't touched.How do you tell those regions who had their premiers killed to forget about evil event especially when the coup plotters weren't punished?The coup was led by a Major from the region we all know and a man from his same region took over power and centralised the system of government.

coptic:


Why do I get the feeling that you're a good guy who has been fed truth tinged with lies?

You know why the north is "poor" like you claim? Because the leaders only amass wealth for themselves. The typical Nigerian leader only remembers to fix the roads because they are afraid of death, not because they care about the poor and downtrodden.

As for Biafra and all the loses incurred, I'm really sorry for the lives lost. But, blame it all on Ojukwu, the very man who caused innocents to die fighting his war of greed.

Your problem is not one nigeria; it is selfish individuals who lack foresight in every sphere of life. And those are the dunces that rule over us.

analyst

leofab:
analyst

what's your point?..you gat nothing to say?
are you an iPob or a Trumpanzee??
The truth has spoken!

mayorchelsea:
For me,the biggest reason why the war took place was none other than the fact that the first coup plotters were not punished.You killed Premiers of The Northern and Western region but the premier from your region wasn't touched.How do you tell those regions who had their premiers killed to forget about evil event especially when the coup plotters weren't punished?The coup was led by a Major from the region we all knew and a man from his same region took over power and centralised the system of government.

let them continue to celebrate foolery... Afonjas are big like that..they always find a way of wailing on Yorubas without whom their freedom is not assured.
The truth has spoken!

Ngozi123:
Excellent article. Number 4 is particularly interesting considering that many Nigerians believe that the first coup plotters were blood thirsty murderers who were also Igbo supremacists. This goes to show that they were true patriots who really wanted their country to improve. If we had people like that in Nigeria today, this country would be so much better off. What a shame...

Why not Number 5?.... Bias Selectivity.... something about it that just can't hide.
The truth has spoken!