The Civil War Projects

Curating human stories of the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War

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On this day (May 30, 1967): Declaration of the Republic of Biafra

On this day 49 years ago, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the South Eastern Region's military governor, announced the Republic of Biafra, citing the Easterners killed in the post-coup violence.

The secessionist state enjoyed its freedom for a very short time (a month and three days), before the civil war began on July 6, 1967 to counter the withdrawal of Biafra from Nigeria. It will go on to be the bloodiest war in the history of Nigeria.

After two-and-a-half years of war, during which over three million Biafran civilians died in fighting and from starvation occasioned by the total blockade of the region.

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I haven’t seen my sister to this day - Pa Young Ogwuegbu

Evangelist Young Ogwuegbu was a soldier during the war, who fought on the Biafran side.

He shared numerous near-death experiences and how it made him a strong Christian and influenced the man he is today.

Pa Ogwuegbu left his home in the South-East at the age of 17 to seek a better life in Lagos, but had to return back shortly before the beginning of the war. He lost everything, including his life savings of ten pounds that he'd put away at the Post Office back in Lagos.

At the end of the war, he once again moved back to Lagos to start his life over.

Pa Ogwuegbu talked about something of vital importance, which has almost never been talked about ever since the war ended. It is about the Biafran women. Young girls and teenagers were taken away by Nigerian soldiers. Some lucky ones returned but were forever marred by their experience. The unlucky ones were never seen again. His sister, Ijeoma, was one of the unlucky ones. To this day, according to Pa, Ijeoma has never been found. This is just like Kainene in Chimamanda Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun.

He doesn't talk much about his experience because he has chosen to move on from it and it holds a lot of painful memories - some of which he had deliberately forgotten until our interview. 

Pa resumed his education after the war, through personal effort, by attending night or correspondence school. He was able to train his junior brother to be a medical doctor - among others - with the money he made from his business. Today, he is a pastor, a father and grandfather.

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“Some of those who survived the war didn’t survive the peace.” - Prof Akachi Ezeigbo

Professor Akachi Ezeigbo was a teenager during the civil war and trained to serve in the Biafran army. She lost a brother, as well as numerous cousins and friends in the war.

Professor Ezeigbo said that some of those that survived the war didn't survive the peace, as they died on their way home.

The war thought her one important lesson, which is hard work indeed pays off. She returned to school and studied to attend get a university education. Through the benevolence of a good Samaritan who paid for her examination forms, she was able to sit for the exams and pass with flying colours. With her result, she was able to get a scholarship to study at the University of Lagos, where she went on to teach for 30 years.

In addition to being a lecturer, she is writer, novelist, critic, essayist and journalist.