Secessionist state of Nigeria, in existence from May 30, 1967, to Jan. 15, 1970.
At the outset Biafra comprised, roughly, the East-Central, South-Eastern, and Rivers states of the Federation of Nigeria, where the Igbo people predominated. The country, which took its name from the Bight of Biafra (an arm of the Atlantic Ocean), was established by Igbos who felt they could not develop or even survive within Nigeria.
In September 1966, numerous Igbos had been killed in Northern Nigeria, where they had migrated in order to engage in commerce. The secessionist state was led by Lt. Col. Chukumeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and included some non-Igbo persons.
Biafra's original capital was Enugu. Aba, Umuahia, and Owerri served successively as provisional capitals after Enugu was captured (October 1967) by Nigerian forces. Seeking to maintain national unity, Nigeria imposed economic sanctions on Biafra from the start of the secession, and fighting between Nigeria and Biafra broke out in July, 1967.
After initial Biafran advances, Nigeria attacked Biafra by air, land, and sea and gradually reduced the territory under its control.
On January 3, 1968 Chief Obafemi Awolowo gave a master stroke that effectively ended the war. The old currency which was in use before the war started was replaced with a new currency issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria. This action was given a jolt when Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, one of Ojukwu's advisers pledged his loyalty to the Federal Government of Nigeria on August 13, 1969 at Ikeja Airport.
The breakaway state had insufficient resources at the start of the war it was a net importer of food and had little industry and depended heavily on its control of petroleum fields for funds to make purchases abroad. It lost the oil fields in the war.
On January 10, 1970 the Lt. Col Chukwuemeka Ojukwu left Biafra to Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (then Ivory Coast). The following day rebel forces led by General Philip Effiong surrendered to the Federal forces. Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo accepted the surrender documents on behalf of the Federal Government.
On Jan. 15, 1970, the Biafran War effectively ended
By the end of the war on Jan. 15, 1970, Biafra was greatly reduced in size and more than one million of its civilian population are thought to have died as a result of severe malnutrition. Biafra's leader, Lieutenant Colonel Odumegwo Ojukwu, forbade the necessary food to reach the country through a neutral corridor for fear Nigerian troops will poison it.
During its existence Biafra was recognized by only five nations, although other countries gave moral or material support. Civilian groups had been organized in a number of countries to publicize the case for Biafra and to raise funds for the secessionist state.
Lt. Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Oxford-trained leader of secessionist Biafra, announces introduction of new currency and postage stamps, officially issued on January 29th, at a meeting of his consultative assembly in Owerri.
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