Joseph Achuzie (born 1929) was a General in the Biafran Army. Achuzie is best known for his successful air raids against the Nigerian Army and success in bombing Nigerian defenses during battles.

Before Achuzie was made a General in the Biafran Army and was a colonel in the Nigerian Army. Achuzie had to flee into the Igbo heartland during the Anti-Igbo sentiment of 1966. When Biafra was proclaimed on May 30, 1967 he was freed from the prison on terms of "self defense". Before he became General, he was a commander in Philip Effiong's brigade and led successful attacks against the Nigerian Army at battles in Nsukka and Onitsha. Achuzie was nicknamed by fellow soldiers "Hannibal" for his success and determination in fighting against the enemy. When Achuzie was made general in mid-1968 he assisted Carl Gustaf von Rosen in air attacks against the Nigerian Army in and around the city of Owerri. In mid-1969 Achuzie helped defend the city of Oguta against Nigerian General Murtala Muhammad
Achuzie was a militiaman who played active roles in the invasion of Midwestern region which included his home town, Asaba. Achuzie can again be remembered for the very active roles he played in the defense of Onitsha against series of attacking efforts made by Colonel Murtala Mohammed to take over the city and constitute threat to the Biafran bids

Following the defeat in the Cross River region, the Biafrans regrouped the remnants of their troops and created the Biafran 12th Division under the command of Lt. Col. Festus Akagha. The 12th Division was divided into the 56th Brigade stationed in Arochukwu and the 58th Brigade stationed in Uyo. On March 8, 1968, the beaches at Oron came under heavy Nigerian aerial and naval bombardment. The Nigerian 33rd Brigade under Col. Ted Hamman overran Biafran defensive positions and continued towards Uyo. Due to the swiftness of the Nigerian advance, Biafran officers began to lose control of their troops. Consequently, hundreds of Biafran troops were cut off and forced to surrender after Nigerian troops stationed at Oron linked up with he Nigerian 16th and 17th Brigade in Uyo. The 16th Brigade under Col. E.A. Etuk and 17th Brigade under Lt. Col. Philemon Shande stormed through Eket and occupied Opobo. With the Biafrans in retreat, the Nigerian 15th Brigade under Col. Ipoola Alani Akinrinade stationed at Bonny launched an attack on Port Harcourt. At the time, Port Harcourt was defended by the Biafran 52nd Brigade under Col. Ogbugo Kalu. After heavy fighting, Nigerian troops captured and dug in at Onne; their success would be short lived. A division of Biafran soldiers under an Italian-born Biafran mercenary unexpectedly counter-attacked, inflicting heavy casualties before forcing the Nigerians to retreat from Onne. The Biafran 14th Battalion stationed in Bori panicked and retreated from the town after spotting Nigerian soldiers wearing the insignia of the Nigerian 14th Brigade. As Biafran lines around Port Harcourt crumbled, a message was sent over Radio Biafra for the defense of the city. On May 19 the Biafran Maj. Joseph Achuzie arrived in Port Harcourt and was made commander of Biafran troops defending the city. Port Harcourt was subjected to heavy Nigerian artillery bombardment while defending Biafran troops fiercely resisted. During five days of heavy fighting, Port Harcourt's airport and army barracks changed hands on numerous occasions but by May 24 most Biafran troops had been pushed out of the city into the surrounding areas. Maj. Achuzie stubbornly continued to fight against the Nigerians before narrowly escaping death after almost being run over by an armored car; it was then that Maj. Achuzie abandoned fighting and retreated to Igrita.

On September 20, 1967 the Nigerian 2nd Division under General Murtala Mohammed forced all Biafran soldiers within Nigeria's Mid-Western Region to retreat eastwards back towards Biafra. In an attempt to halt the Nigerian advance retreating Biafran soldiers destroyed the River Niger Bridge at Onitsha, trapping the Nigerians on the other side of the river. In October 1967 2nd Division soldiers entered Asaba and began setting up artillery positions on the banks of the Niger River while 2nd Division soldiers began preparing for an invasion.

The Biafran 11th Division, which consisted of the 11th, 12th and 18th Battalions, was given the task of defending Onitsha. The 12th Battalion under Col. Mike Inveso was responsible for defending the area between Idah and Nsugbe, the 18th Battalion under Col. Assam Nsudoh was responsible for defending Onitsha town, and the 11th Battalion under Maj. Joseph Achuzie defended the area between Atani and Ndoni. The beaches around Onitsha were heavily mined and were backed up by Biafran machine guns and anti-tank weapons. Because the Biafrans had detonated the Niger River Bridge Gen. Murtala Mohammed was left with the decision of crossing the Niger River at Idah or making and amphibious attack on Onitsha. Gen. Mohammed disregarded advice from the Nigerian Army HQ in Lagos and chose to attack Onitsha head on. On October 4, 1967 Gen. Mohammed ordered Nigerian artillery to begin bombarding Onitsha. Eight days later Gen. Mohammed personally leads a 10-boat armada carrying 5,000 Nigerian soldiers across the Niger River into Onitsha

The 11th Battalion under Maj. Achuzie made their way up the New Market road while the 18th Battalion under Col. Nsudoh swung down the Old Market road towards Onitsha. Nigerian 2nd Division soldiers stationed in Onitsha were totally routed and most were either killed or taken prisoner. Undaunted, Gen. Mohammed ordered a 5,000 man reserve from Lagos to cross the Niger River into Onitsha but they were once again defeated. Gen. Mohammed ordered troops under Lt. Col. Ipoola Alani Akinrinade to make a third assault on Onitsha but were once again thwarted by the Biafran 11th and 18th Battalions. It was now when Gen. Mohammed realized there was no hope in attacking Onitsha from Asaba and began heading north towards Idah.

On March 31, 1968 a 96 car Nigerian supply convoy was transporting recently captured Biafran supplies from Onitsha to Enugu. When the convoy reached the town of Abagana they were attacked by a small troop of Biafran soldiers led by Maj. Joseph Achuzie. A homemade Ogbunigwe mine was launched by the Biafrans at a tanker truck carrying gasoline which caused an enormous explosion that tossed armored cars like tin cans. After seeing the destruction that they inflicted the Biafrans fled back to Nnewi, leaving the Nigerians confused and disoriented. Against all odds Col. Murtala Mohammed survived the attack along with 50 other Nigerian soldiers.

The successful ambush at Abagana gave both Biafran soldiers and civilians hope in the war as well as halting the Nigerian advance into Biafran territory. In June 1968, now fed up with reprimands from the Nigerian Army HQ in Lagos, Col. Mohammed took an extended leave from the army and took a vacation to the United Kingdom.

hmmm

nnukwu ochiagha Achuzie,i salute you

from today on ward .



i am more biafra than ever .



no more reflection with Nigeria flag .


i wanna see videos of burning zoological flag .


no more , I pledge to Nigeria dark country .


today my pledge is to Biafra take it or drink poison .

why is it called black igbo month? is there a chinese igbo? which igbo isn't black?

Ikengawo:
why is it called black igbo month? is there a chinese igbo? which igbo isn't black?

Black in terms of historical tragical recollection not black as in skin colour ..

the month of may marks the start of the tragic Nigeria civil war

I am igbo but F* biafra we need peace Not disorliness until we begin to think as one people we will never go forward.. The Bible says... Whatever they put their hands to do they will achieve because they have one language so God destroyed their language and the tower of babel was abandoned.... Until you see beyond your ethnicity biafra will only be a toothless bulldog.. Make love not war. Peace out

Joe Achuzie is my hero

Heros of the Biafran struggle.Soon your labours will never be in vain.

Hanibal was a great man

This haters even make me more Biafran...
Am proud

It is ga ju.......

tochukwuifeduba:
Joseph Achuzie (born 1929) was a General in the Biafran Army. Achuzie is best known for his successful air raids against the Nigerian Army and success in bombing Nigerian defenses during battles.

Before Achuzie was made a General in the Biafran Army and was a colonel in the Nigerian Army. Achuzie had to flee into the Igbo heartland during the Anti-Igbo sentiment of 1966. When Biafra was proclaimed on May 30, 1967 he was freed from the prison on terms of "self defense". Before he became General, he was a commander in Philip Effiong's brigade and led successful attacks against the Nigerian Army at battles in Nsukka and Onitsha. Achuzie was nicknamed by fellow soldiers "Hannibal" for his success and determination in fighting against the enemy. When Achuzie was made general in mid-1968 he assisted Carl Gustaf von Rosen in air attacks against the Nigerian Army in and around the city of Owerri. In mid-1969 Achuzie helped defend the city of Oguta against Nigerian General Murtala Muhammad
Achuzie was a militiaman who played active roles in the invasion of Midwestern region which included his home town, Asaba. Achuzie can again be remembered for the very active roles he played in the defense of Onitsha against series of attacking efforts made by Colonel Murtala Mohammed to take over the city and constitute threat to the Biafran bids

Following the defeat in the Cross River region, the Biafrans regrouped the remnants of their troops and created the Biafran 12th Division under the command of Lt. Col. Festus Akagha. The 12th Division was divided into the 56th Brigade stationed in Arochukwu and the 58th Brigade stationed in Uyo. On March 8, 1968, the beaches at Oron came under heavy Nigerian aerial and naval bombardment. The Nigerian 33rd Brigade under Col. Ted Hamman overran Biafran defensive positions and continued towards Uyo. Due to the swiftness of the Nigerian advance, Biafran officers began to lose control of their troops. Consequently, hundreds of Biafran troops were cut off and forced to surrender after Nigerian troops stationed at Oron linked up with he Nigerian 16th and 17th Brigade in Uyo. The 16th Brigade under Col. E.A. Etuk and 17th Brigade under Lt. Col. Philemon Shande stormed through Eket and occupied Opobo. With the Biafrans in retreat, the Nigerian 15th Brigade under Col. Ipoola Alani Akinrinade stationed at Bonny launched an attack on Port Harcourt. At the time, Port Harcourt was defended by the Biafran 52nd Brigade under Col. Ogbugo Kalu. After heavy fighting, Nigerian troops captured and dug in at Onne; their success would be short lived. A division of Biafran soldiers under an Italian-born Biafran mercenary unexpectedly counter-attacked, inflicting heavy casualties before forcing the Nigerians to retreat from Onne. The Biafran 14th Battalion stationed in Bori panicked and retreated from the town after spotting Nigerian soldiers wearing the insignia of the Nigerian 14th Brigade. As Biafran lines around Port Harcourt crumbled, a message was sent over Radio Biafra for the defense of the city. On May 19 the Biafran Maj. Joseph Achuzie arrived in Port Harcourt and was made commander of Biafran troops defending the city. Port Harcourt was subjected to heavy Nigerian artillery bombardment while defending Biafran troops fiercely resisted. During five days of heavy fighting, Port Harcourt's airport and army barracks changed hands on numerous occasions but by May 24 most Biafran troops had been pushed out of the city into the surrounding areas. Maj. Achuzie stubbornly continued to fight against the Nigerians before narrowly escaping death after almost being run over by an armored car; it was then that Maj. Achuzie abandoned fighting and retreated to Igrita.

On September 20, 1967 the Nigerian 2nd Division under General Murtala Mohammed forced all Biafran soldiers within Nigeria's Mid-Western Region to retreat eastwards back towards Biafra. In an attempt to halt the Nigerian advance retreating Biafran soldiers destroyed the River Niger Bridge at Onitsha, trapping the Nigerians on the other side of the river. In October 1967 2nd Division soldiers entered Asaba and began setting up artillery positions on the banks of the Niger River while 2nd Division soldiers began preparing for an invasion.

The Biafran 11th Division, which consisted of the 11th, 12th and 18th Battalions, was given the task of defending Onitsha. The 12th Battalion under Col. Mike Inveso was responsible for defending the area between Idah and Nsugbe, the 18th Battalion under Col. Assam Nsudoh was responsible for defending Onitsha town, and the 11th Battalion under Maj. Joseph Achuzie defended the area between Atani and Ndoni. The beaches around Onitsha were heavily mined and were backed up by Biafran machine guns and anti-tank weapons. Because the Biafrans had detonated the Niger River Bridge Gen. Murtala Mohammed was left with the decision of crossing the Niger River at Idah or making and amphibious attack on Onitsha. Gen. Mohammed disregarded advice from the Nigerian Army HQ in Lagos and chose to attack Onitsha head on. On October 4, 1967 Gen. Mohammed ordered Nigerian artillery to begin bombarding Onitsha. Eight days later Gen. Mohammed personally leads a 10-boat armada carrying 5,000 Nigerian soldiers across the Niger River into Onitsha

The 11th Battalion under Maj. Achuzie made their way up the New Market road while the 18th Battalion under Col. Nsudoh swung down the Old Market road towards Onitsha. Nigerian 2nd Division soldiers stationed in Onitsha were totally routed and most were either killed or taken prisoner. Undaunted, Gen. Mohammed ordered a 5,000 man reserve from Lagos to cross the Niger River into Onitsha but they were once again defeated. Gen. Mohammed ordered troops under Lt. Col. Ipoola Alani Akinrinade to make a third assault on Onitsha but were once again thwarted by the Biafran 11th and 18th Battalions. It was now when Gen. Mohammed realized there was no hope in attacking Onitsha from Asaba and began heading north towards Idah.

On March 31, 1968 a 96 car Nigerian supply convoy was transporting recently captured Biafran supplies from Onitsha to Enugu. When the convoy reached the town of Abagana they were attacked by a small troop of Biafran soldiers led by Maj. Joseph Achuzie. A homemade Ogbunigwe mine was launched by the Biafrans at a tanker truck carrying gasoline which caused an enormous explosion that tossed armored cars like tin cans. After seeing the destruction that they inflicted the Biafrans fled back to Nnewi, leaving the Nigerians confused and disoriented. Against all odds Col. Murtala Mohammed survived the attack along with 50 other Nigerian soldiers.

The successful ambush at Abagana gave both Biafran soldiers and civilians hope in the war as well as halting the Nigerian advance into Biafran territory. In June 1968, now fed up with reprimands from the Nigerian Army HQ in Lagos, Col. Mohammed took an extended leave from the army and took a vacation to the United Kingdom.

With due respect to Achuzia,the great Biafran warrior but the fact is he was never in nigerian army.

All hail the great Achuzie and other gallant Biafra soldiers. I must appreciate them, no one could have believed that they could resist Nigeria soldiers for 3 years, considering their shortage of military kits.

iphanyiuma:
I am igbo but F* biafra we need peace Not disorliness until we begin to think as one people we will never go forward.. The Bible says... Whatever they put their hands to do they will achieve because they have one language so God destroyed their language and the tower of babel was abandoned.... Until you see beyond your ethnicity biafra will only be a toothless bulldog.. Make love not war. Peace out

Are you sure you are not half awusa half yeruba? Go and ask questions about your birth!!

ekenedegreat:
Are you sure you are not half awusa half yeruba? Go and ask questions about your birth!!

and I thought the reign of foolishness was over

iphanyiuma:
I am igbo but F* biafra we need peace Not disorliness until we begin to think as one people we will never go forward.. The Bible says... Whatever they put their hands to do they will achieve because they have one language so God destroyed their language and the tower of babel was abandoned.... Until you see beyond your ethnicity biafra will only be a toothless bulldog.. Make love not war. Peace out

But they are of different language