Biafra War In Chronological Order
1. December 1

2. October 1965 regional elections

3. Post-election violence in Western Nigeria
(1965/66)

4. The military takes over the Government:
(January 1966)

5. Anti-Ironsi demonstrations and killing of
Igbos in the North
(April/May 1966)

6. Overthrow of Ironsi's regime and death of
Ironsi (July 1966)

7. Gowon seizes power, and in consultation
with only Northern
officers and politicians, forms government.
Killings of Igbo officers
continues unabated. (August 1966)

8. Ojukwu offers to confer with Gowon to end
bloodshed and asks for
repatriation of troops to their regional origins
to lower tension;
says offer was refused by Gowon. (August
1966)

9. Out of safety concerns, Ojukwu refuses to
go to Lagos for
meeting of the 4 regional military governors
but is still hopeful of
peace resolution. (August 1966)

10. Mass exodus of over 300,000 Igbos from
the North to the East
resulting from flare up of many riots and Igbo
killings. (August 1966)

11. Ojukwu declares official day of mourning
and Gowon condemns
it.(August 1966)

12. Gowon issues decree restoring the Federal
system and abolishing
the unitary Government. (August 1966)

13. Regional representatives convene a
conference to determine
grounds for unity. Gowon opens conference
with offer of 4 forms of
government. (August 1966)

14. Over 2000 Igbos are massacred in Kano
on September 29th, 1966 by
a combination of Hausa mobs and troops of
the fifth battalion in Kano.
Further Igbo exodus

15. A DC-4 carrying weapons to Eastern
Nigeria crashes in Cameroon
and Henry A. Wharton, a German-American is
arrested.(October 1966)

16. Gowon suspends the constitutional
conference. (November 1966)

17. Eastern Region faced with resettlement of
refugees. (December 1966)

18. Gowon and 4 military Governors confer in
Aburi, Ghana. Optimism
expressed about the future. (January 1967)

19. Nigeria confirms the death of Ironsi; flags
fly at half mast.
(January 1967)

20. Easter region accuses federal government
of failure to implement
the Aburi accord and warns that the country is
on the brink of
political disintegration. (March 1967)

21. Ojukwu warns that the East will secede if
invaded or blockaded.
Both sides mobilize civilians (May 1967)

22. Awolowo announces that West/Lagos will
secede if the East goes. (May 1967)

23. Political situation deteriorates due to non-
implementation of
Aburi accord. Ojukwu expresses pessimism at
a negotiated settlement.
(May 1967)

24. As impasse continues, Ojukwu seeks
mandate from Eastern Assembly
to Declare Biafra. (May 1967)

25. Gowon divides Nigeria into 12 states/
Biafra is declared. (May 1967)

26. Nigeria invades Biafra. (July 1967)

27. The Mid-west operation and Biafra's
military setbacks. Losses of
Nsukka and Enugu. The saboteur phenomenon
(August 1967)

28. Wale Soyinka is arrested and detained;
Biafra looses the
Mid-west. (August 1967)

28a. Two disastrous attempts by Nigerian
troops to take Onitsha
from Asaba. (October 1967)

29. Ojukwu executes three military men and a
civilian in Enugu. (October 1967)

30. Soyinka is a confessed Biafran Agent,
says Enahoro. (October 1967)

31. Gowon accuses Portugal of aiding Biafra.
(October 1967)

32. Biafran plane shot down in Lagos.
(October 1967)

33. Biafra Accused of Hiring Mercenaries.
(November 1967)

34. Mrs. Soyinka Requests Hearing for Her
Husband. (November 1967)

35. Soyinks denies alleged Confession.
(November 1967)

36. OAU Mission Visits Nigeria (November
1967)

37. Ghanaian Gen. Ankrah named OAU
Emissary to Biafra. (November 1967)

38. Nigeria suddenly, changes Currency Notes.
(December 1967)
1968

39. Nigeria frees two jailed Americans
(January 1968)

40. Gowon Under Pressure to End War.
(January 1968)

41. Nigerian old Bank Notes Arrive in Geneva.
(January 1968)

42. Ojukwu calls for Cease-fire and
Negotiations. (January 1968)

43. manliness Tiger Joins Biafran Army
(January 1968)

44. Gowon sets 3-months deadline to defeat
Biafra (January 1968)

45. United States Affirms Its Support for one
Nigeria. (February 1968)

46. Commonwealth Secretary Arrives in Lagos.
(February 1968)

47. Dr. Martin Luther King cancels Nigerian
Trip. (March 1968)

48. Monsignor Rochcau Reports on Midwest
Genocide. (April 1968)

49. Tanzania Today Becomes the First
Country to recognize the
Republic of Biafra as a sovereign State. (April
1968)

50. Ojukwu Takes One Week Retreat. (April
1968)

51. New York Times Condemns Tanzania for
its Recognition of Biafra.
(April 1968)

52. Houphouet-Boigny Praises Tanzania's
Recognition of Biafra. (April 1968)

53. Preliminary talks begin in London for both
sides. (May 1968)

54. Zambia recognizes Biafra. (May 1968)

55. Peace talks begin in Kampala and fails.
(May 1968)

56. Addis Ababa talks begin and fail.(July
1968)

57. Political and diplomatic battles over
acceptable relief routes
to Biafra. Nigeria refuses direct daylight airlift
of supplies to
Biafra, and Biafra refuses relief passed
through Nigeria. (July 1968)

58. Britain accused Ojukwu of obstructing
relief operations and of
using famine to gain world sympathy.(July
1968)

59. Belgium cancels all arms supplies to
Nigeria following crash of
Belgium airliner carrying arms to Lagos.(July
1968)

60. Over Gowon's objections, OAU consultative
committee invites
Ojukwu to Niamey to meet with them by July
18th, 1968 to discuss the
crisis.(July 1968)

61. Ojukwu goes to Niamey, meets OAU
committee members and Hamani
Diori. Meets with Biafran delegation under Eni
Njoku before returning
home. Gowon had left Niamey before Ojukwu's
arrival. (July 1968)

62. Biafra rejects proposed relief route from
Enugu to Awgu to
Okigwe saying Biafrans will not eat food that
passes through Nigerian
hands for fear of poisoning. (July 1968)

63. Speculations on Ojukwu and Gowon
leading their respective
delegations to upcoming Addis Ababa talks.
Ojukwu, in interview, looks
forward to decisive confrontation with Gowon.
(July 1968)

64. Pilots flying arms cargo to Biafra with
Henry A. Wharton
threatening to revolt unless a fee of $1000
per trip in increase is
made. (July 1968)

65. France announced support of Biafra and
calls for settlement of
dispute on basis of self determination. (July
1968)

66. Addis Ababa talk opens with Ojukwu
present but not Gowon. Ojukwu
delivers two hours and ten minutes address
insisting that only
sovereignty can guarantee security for
Biafrans. Ojukwu leaves talk
accompanied by two Gabonese officials whose
presence Nigeria had
protested. (August 1968)

67. Activities of Biafra 4th Commando
Division under Major R.
Steiner and five other white officers. (August
1968)

68. Noted Swedish pilot, Count Von Rosen
flies food and medicine to
Biafra through secret route immune from
Nigerian anti-aircraft fire.
(August 1968)

69. Biafrans display 98 Nigerian troops that
surrendered as a unit.
(August 1968)

70. Nigerian troops push for Aba, cross Imo
River but encounter
Biafran resistance at Akwete; Ojukwu
announced that Nigerian thrust on
Aba has been effectively checked, but sources
say Ojukwu has moved his
headquarters to Umuahia (August 1968).

71. Gowon orders "final offensive". (August
1968)

72. Biafra faces imminent collapse in
September/October 1968 as
Nigerian forces take Aba, Owerri and Okigwe
in rapid succession.
Umuahia is the only sizeable town in Biafra's
hands. (September 1968)

73. Charles de Gaulle in interview hints at
possibility of
recognizing Biafra and admits that France has
been aiding Biafra.
(September 1968)

74. Nigerian troops threaten Umuahia but
Biafrans are defiant.(September 1968)

75. International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) suspends relief
flights to Biafra because Uli Airport is badly
damaged by Nigerian
bombs and Nigerian forces are rapidly
approaching Ohi- Uturu airstrip.
(September 1968)

76. Nigerian forces near Oguta bringing Uli
Airport within artillery
range. Ojukwu reportedly visits Biafra
commanders at Oguta and gives
them 24 hours to clear Nigerian forces from
within artillery range of
Uli airport.(September 1968)

77. Nigeria announces capture of Owerri and
march on Umuahia.
77a. Zambia's President Kenneth Kaunda
announces that Biafra
will be allowed to set up government in Exile
in Zambia, if
defeated.(September 1968)

78. As Biafra loses Aba, Owerri, and Okigwe in
rapid succession,
Ojukwu asks China for help to counter what
he called "Anglo-American
imperialism and Soviet revisionism".
(September 1968)

78a. Otuocha market massacre by Nigerian
war planes; over 500
killed. (September 1968)

79. Canada rules Biafran postage stamps
invalid.(October 1968)

80. International observer team, sent to
monitor conduct of Nigerian
troops, clashes with Col. Benjamin Adekunle
in Port Harcourt. (October
1968)

80b. Nigeria apologises for Col. Adekunle's
behaviour (October 1968)

81. Biafra dismisses Col. Steiner and his
mercenary group in charge
of the Biafran 4th Commando Division. Action
linked to friction
between Steiner division and Biafran regular
army units. (November
1968)

82. Britain alters expectation of Nigerian total
military victory
over Biafra. Expects that Biafra, even if totally
occupied, could
prolong the stalemate by guerilla resistance.
(December 1968)

83. Biafran troops re-enter Owerri,, with house
to house combat
reported. (December 1968)

84. Gowon declares 2-day Christmas truce
starting Dec. 21. Ojukwu
agrees to 8-day truce starting Dec. 23. Gowon
refuses extension of
truce to one week. (December 1968)

1969
85. De Gaulle urges "recognition of right to
self-determination for
valiant Biafra" (January 1969)

86. Mobil Oil Corporation sponsors visit of
J.S. Tarka to United
States to counter Pro-Biafran sentiments.
(January 1969)

87. In Enugu, the Nigerian Army executes 3
Igbos accused of
attempting to assassinate Nigeria's 1st
Division Commander. Col.
Mohammed Shuwa. (January 1969)

88. Nigerian Government prepares for another
final offensive.
Nigerian Government spokesman says Biafra
must be defeated by the end
of February or growing international support
will make Nigerian
victory impossible. (February 1969)

89. About 300 civilians (with eventual toll
over 500) are killed by
the Nigerian air force at Umuohiagu market.
(February 1969)

90. Ojukwu, in a speech to Biafra's
consultative assembly in
Umuahia, says that Nigerian Government has
began their "last desperate
effort", but bars any Biafran surrender. States
"land army program"
will increase agricultural effort. (February
1969)

91. United States New York Senator, Goodell
et al, arrive in Biafra.
(February 1969)

92. U.S. Congressional delegation headed by
Representative Diggs of Michigan arrive
Biafra. (February 1969)

93. Nigerian government reject peace formula
proposed by Dr. Azikiwe (February 1969)

94. Ojukwu expresses hope that De Gaulle, in
his forthcoming meeting with Richard Nixon
will convince Nixon to press for cease-fire in
the war. Ojukwu in interview, discusses three
ways in which the war may end. (February
1969)

95. Nigerian warplane kills over 250 civilians
in Ozu-abam market.
(February 1969)

96. The United States, the Red Cross and
others protest Nigerian's
bombing of civilian population in Biafra.
(March 1969)

97. British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson
arrives Nigeria for state
visit 29/3/69. Wilson invites Ojukwu to meet
with him outside Biafra.
Warns Gowon that bombing of Biafran
civilians is eroding the remnant
of British support for the war(March 1969)

98. Ojukwu rejects Wilson's invitation; calls
invitation "political
propaganda exercise". (April 1969)

99. Nigerian troops open another offensive,
after six months. (April 1969)

100. Several push-and-shove action between
Nigerian and Biafran
forces between Uzuakoli and Umuahia. (April
1969)

101. OAU Committee opens another meeting
to try and end the war. (April 1969)

102. Medical camps for care of Biafran
children are established in
the Ivory Coast run by doctors of New York's
Columbia Presbyterian
Hospital and Ivory Coast Red Cross. (April
1969)

103. Biafra recaptures Owerri using its 14th
Division under Col.
Ogbugo Kalu. (April 1969)

103a. Col. Ogbugo Kalu and Biafran
Information Commissioner,
Ifegwu Eke, address 6 foreign jounalists in
Owerri to counter Nigerian
denial of its recapture (April 1969)

104. Ojukwu is promoted to Major General and
given new mandate to
continue the war. (May 13, 1969)

105. Colonels Adekunle and Haruna,
commanders of Nigeria's 3rd and
2nd Divisions respectively are relived from
their posts. (May 1969)

106. Pius Okigbo, Biafra's rep. to the U.S.
urges U.S. to recognize
Biafra. (May 1969)

107. ICRC (Red Cross) Director, Dr. August
Lindt and aides are
detained for 16 hours by Nigeria with no
charges. (May 1969)

108. Youth, B. Mayrock, of Old. Westbury, New
York, sets himself on
fire and dies in protest against Genocide in
Biafra. (May 1969)

109. Biafra marks 2nd anniversary of
nationhood. Ojukwu, in address,
says Biafran forces are ready to meet
expected Nigerian offensive. (
May 1969)

110. Biafran forces raid Kwale, across the
Niger, killing 11 oil
technicians (10 Italians and 1 Jordanian).
Biafra captures 17 other
oil workers (14 Italian and 3 W. Germans.)
Biafra sentences them to
death. (June 1969)

111. Pope writes letter to Ojukwu regarding
lives of Oilmen captures
in the Mid-West. (June 1969)

112. Wale Soyinka is reported seriously ill in
Kaduna Prison, where
he is incarcerated without trial. (June 1969)

112b Nigeria shoots down a Swedish Red
Cross Plane.(June 1969)

113. Biafra frees captured Oilmen.(June 1969)

114. Nixon urges end of impasse on relief
shipments. (June 1969)

115. US Senator, Strum Thurmond, urges
Nixon to rush relief food to
Biafra with or without Nigerian permission.
(July 1969)

116. Pope visits Uganda and attempts to
mediate peace between Nigeria
and Biafra. (August 1969)

117. Zik withdraws support for succession and
urges Biafra to abandon
war. (August 1969)

118. Gabonese President, Albert Bongo,
reports that Gowon requested
him to arrange meeting between him and
Ojukwu; Nigeria denies making
such a move. (September 1969)

119. Wole Soyinka is freed. (October 1969)

120. Canadian Prime Minister accuses Biafran
authorities of being
interested in receiving arms, not food and
medical supplies. (November
1969)

121. Nigerian forces open offensives on both
Northern and Southern
borders of Biafra, ending a seven month lull.
(December 1969)

122. Biafran delegates arrive at Addis Ababa
for new peace talks but
Nigerian delegates were absent. (December
1969)

123. Ojukwu, in Christmas speech says that
Biafra is faced with the
toughest military test of the war. (December
1969)

1970
124. As war entered 30th month, Nigerian
troops report they've cut
Biafra into three parts. (January 3)

125. Massive Nigerian troops link up and
pressure cause refugees to
stream into Owerri as Biafra nears collapse.
(January 4th)

126. Ojukwu announces over Radio Biafra that
he is flying out of
Biafra to explore possibilities for peace.
(January 11th)

127. Nigerian forces reportedly recaptures
Owerri and are moving on
Uli Airport. Pandemonium and fright as
millions of Biafran refugees
clog roads in chaotic flight from advancing
Nigerian troops and
artillery fire. (January 11)

128. Biafra appears near collapse as Nigeria
confirms recapture of
Owerri, and Uli airport is virtually destroyed by
artillery fire.
(January 11)

129. Biafra capitulates, ending a 30-month
war that cost an estimated
two million lives on both sides. (January 11)

130. General Effiong, in radio broadcast,
orders Biafran troops to
lay down their arms and says he is sending
representatives to meet
with the Nigerian field commanders to
negotiate armistice. ( January
13)

131. Gowon, in broadcast, rejects all relief aid
from countries or
groups that aided Biafra. (January 14)

132. Nigerian Red Cross claims sole
responsibility for distribution
of relief. (January 15)

133. Last Missionaries to Leave Biafra
Describe the Beginning of the
End. (January 15)

134. Biafrans Scramble to get on the Last
Plane. (January 15)

135. Gowon Re-instates Biafran Civil Servants
and Prohibits the Word
"Biafra". (January 15)

136. Effiong makes formal surrender
statement/declaration in a
ceremony in Lagos. (January 16)

137. Ojukwu appeals to the world to help save
Biafrans in a statement
released for him in Geneva by Markpress.
(January 16)

138. Last observers to leave Biafra describe
the beginning of the
end. (January 16)

139. Nigeria Expels 4 Journalists for Visiting
the East without
Permission. (January 17)

140. General Effiong reassures the Nigerian
Government that the
Biafran forces hiding in the bushes will not
wage guerilla war.
(January 18)

141. Portugal offers asylum to all Biafran
refugees and says it will
maintain its facilities at Sao Tome for relief
operation. (January 19)

142. Nigeria thanks USSR; Ambassador George
T. Kurubo says Soviet aid
to Nigeria was the most important factor in
the defeat of Biafra.
(January 21)

143. Nigeria drops safe conduct passes to
remote areas to persuade
Biafran troops and civilians to come out from
hiding places. (January
21)
?

144. Obasanjo Detains 80 Journalists in Port
Harcourt. (January 21)
?

145. Gowon, After Stalling, Increases Money
for Relief Distribution;
First News Conference since End of the War.
(January 22)

146. Gabon Offers Asylum to Biafran Exiles.
(January 22)

147. Nigeria Grappling with Troop Brutality
and Indiscipline. (January 23)

148. Unabated Food Shortage in Biafra.
(January 23)

149. British Team Deplores Indiscipline among
Nigerian Troops. (January 24)

150. Ojukwu is given asylum in the Ivory
Coast. Ivory Coast
Government says he will refrain from all
political activities.
(January 24)
?
150b. Reports of indiscipline, plundering and
looting among
Nigeria's 3rd Marine Commando troops.
(January 24)
?
151. Nigerian Government refuses to use Uli
Airport for relief,
saying it is a symbol of rebellion. (January
26)

152. U.N. Envoy Calls Biafran Relief
Distribution Insufficient. (January 26)

153. Facing Criticism, Nigerian red Cross says
It's Expanding Relief
Operations. (January 27)

154. Nigeria Arrests Two C.B.S. Newsmen.
(January 27)

155. Gowon says there will be no Nuremburg-
type trials for rebel
leaders and he reiterates General amnesty.
(January 30)

156. New York Times columnist, A. Lewis
describes chaotic conditions
in Biafra. (February 1)

157. Nigeria Establishes Board of Inquiry for
Biafran Officers. (February 6)

158. ICRC ends relief operations, citing
Nigeria's obstructionist
tendencies. (February 7)

159. Nigeria Bans Arms Possession in 3
Eastern States. (February 13)

160. U Thant defends his policies during and immediately after the war. (February 18)
161. Igbos are beginning to return to their jobs in the North, West, and Lagos. (February 22)
162. Gowon Urged to Abate Anti-Missionary Hostility. (March 7)
163. Ojukwu to Face High Treason Charges. (March 14)
164. Nigeria's National Rehabilitation commission takes over relief distribution from the Nigerian Red Cross. (March 15)
165. Nigerian Chief Army of Staff, Brigadier H.U. Katsina says Ojukwu will be tried or high treason if he returns. (March 15)
166. Maj. Gen. Effiong Under Arrest. (May )
167. Flat payment of 20 pounds to all Igbos for their Biafran and
pre-war Nigerian money deposited in Nigerian Banks, regardless of amount. (June 5)
168. Nigeria to Dismiss Pro-Biafran Employees. (August 15)
169. Nigeria Reconciles with Biafra's Friends. (September 1)
170. Nigeria reconciles with Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Gabon and Zambia. (September 2)
171. Gowon defers civilian rule to 1976. States census and new constitution are prerequisites to civilian administration. (October 2)

Im from kaduna and i do laugh at Biafrans

freezy9:
Im from kaduna and i do laugh at Biafrans

same way biafrans do laugh at you

melodyogonna:
same way biafrans do laugh at you

i laught at their delusion ...why do they laught at me

freezy9:
i laught at their delusion ...why do they laught at me

they laugh at your ignorance and delusion

hucienda:
History.
Chilling. War is not child's play.

war is not for chicken hearted men

hucienda:
History.
Chilling. War is not child's play.

war is not for chicken hearted men