Remembering the Veterans of the Biafran Army



Compiled by Terhemba Osuji
Lt Colonel Ojukwu Declared the Republic of Biafra on May 30, 1967.
Immediately following that declaration there was mass mobilization of Biafrans into the army to counter the Federal Government which quickly condemned the declaration and immediately began directing army units towards Biafran borders to put down the rebellion.
The Senior Officer Executive corp of the army including Ojukwu himself were made up of former officers of the Nigerian Army. The went about their task with zeal and under strenuous conditions to open several military training camps to handle the flood of patriotic recruits many of whom they had to turn away.
The Biafran Army had only a few bolt action rifles at its prime arsenal in Enugu and its quick formation barely gave it enough time to organize or develop its fighting units before it was forced to weather an attack by the Nigerian Army at Garkem.
Nevertheless, and despite the overwhelming shortage of arms it launched an invasion of the Midwest and battled the Nigerian army for thirty long months before it finally capitulated to the Federal government on January 15, 1967 when General Effiong who had assumed command of the Armed Forces after the flight of General Ojukwu, surrendered in an official ceremony in Lagos.
The escapades, exploits and the unprecedented valor, bravery, and gallantry of the Biafran army has been documented by various military commanders on both the secessionist and federal side.
There is a paucity of data about the size of the Biafran army during the war and since they were unceremoniously disbanded after the end of hostilities it will be difficult to estimate, nevertheless by the end of the war more than 100000 soldiers lay dead buried in many mass graves or left to rot.
The following is a listing of some of the army field commanders during the war;
51 BRIGADE- of Biafran 101 Division disbanded and transferred to 13 Division
Commanders: Madiebo, Amadi, Ude
Saw action: Obollo Afor, Ogoja, Enugu, Nkalagu, Abakaliki sectors
Adversary: units of Federal 1 Division
52 BRIGADE- of Biafran 14 Division
Commanders: Eze, Anuku(stand-in),Ugokwe, Igweze
Saw action; Calabar, Onne, PHC, OWERRI, Oguta, Aba sectors
Adversary: units of Federal 3 Marine Commando Division
53 BRIGADE- of Biafran 101 Division, later moved to 13 Division
Commanders: Eze, LeRois, Nwajei, Ude
Saw action: Obollo Afor, Onitsha, Aba, Owerri, Okigwe sectors
Adversaries: units of Federal 1 Division, 2 Division and 3 MCD
54 BRIGADE- of Biafran 11 Division
Commanders:Ivenso,Nsudoh,Ohanehi, Nebo
Saw action:Onitsha,Nkpor,Otuocha,Umunya, Umuahia sectors
Adversaries: units of Federal 2 Division (MAIN), 1 Division
55 BRIGADE- of Biafran 13 Division
Commanders: Ochei, Agbogu,Ude
Saw action:Ikom, Obubra, Afikpo sectors
Adversary: units of 3 Marine Commando Division
56 BRIGADE- of Biafran 12 Division(later renamed Special Task Force and placed under direct command of BAHQ.
Commander: Simon Uwakwe
Saw action: Arochukwu, Ikot Okpora, Bende,Ohafia,Abriba sectors
Adversary: units of Federal 3 Marine Commando Division
57 BRIGADE- of Biafran 11 Division
Commander: Robert Akonobi
Saw action:Otuocha,Nkpor,Onitsha,Umunya, Ogidi sectors
Adversaries: units of Federal 2 Division (MAIN), 1 Division
58 BRIGADE- of Biafran 12 Division
Commanders: Aniebo, Ivenso, Aghanya,Olehi
Saw action: Ikot Ekpene, Ugba Junction, Eberi(Omuma) sectors
Adversary: units of Federal 3 Marine Commando Division
60 BRIGADE- of Biafran 14 Division
Commander: Asoya
Saw action: OGUTA, OWERRI, Umuahia
Adversaries: units of Federal 3 Marine CDO Div (MAIN), 1 Division
61 BRIGADE- of Biafran 12 Division
Commander: Joseph Okeke
Saw action: Azumini sector
Adversary: units of Federal 3 Marine Commando Division
62 BRIGADE- of Biafran 12 Division
Commander: Ogbo Oji
Saw action: Ikot Ekpene
Adversary: units of Federal 3 Marine Commando Division
63 BRIGADE- of Biafran 14 Division
Commanders- Okilo, Ihenacho
Saw action: OWERRI, Mbaise, Amala sectors
Adversary: units of Federal 3 Marine Commando Division
64 BRIGADE- of Biafran 15 Division
Commander: (yet to be ascertained)
Saw action: Uzuakoli, Ugba Junction sectors
Adversaries: units of Federal 1 Division (MAIN), 3 Marine Commando Division
65 BRIGADE- of Biafran 12 Division
Commander: Omerua
Saw action: Aba, Owazza, Ugba Junction
Adversary: units of Federal 3 Marine Commando Division
66 BRIGADE- of Biafran 11 Division
Commander: Major Osuagwu
Saw action: Onitsha, Ogidi sectors
Adversary: units of Federal 2 Division
68 BRIGADE- of Biafran “S” Division
Commander: (yet to be ascertained)
Saw action: Owerri, Isiokpo, Igrita sectors
Adversary: units of Federal 3 Marine Commando Division
69 BRIGADE- of Biafran 15 Division
Commander: Oparaji
Saw action:Okigwe,Ugba Junction, Ihube, Umunnekwu sectors
Adversaries: units of Federal 1 Division
71 BRIGADE- of Biafran 12 Division
Commander: (yet to be ascertained)
Saw action: Azumini sector
Adversary: units of Federal 3 Marine Commando Division
73 BRIGADE- of 15 Biafran Division
Commander: Ginger (mercenary)
Saw action: Uzuakoli sector
Adversary: units of Federal 1 Division
REPUBLIC OF BENIN BRIGADE- independent
Commander: Achuzia
Saw action: Asaba,Ogwashi-Uku,Ibusa,Okpai(Kwale) oilfields
Adversary: units of Federal 2 Division
”S” BRIGADE
Commanders- Obioha, Onwuatuegwu, Atumaka
Saw action: Ozalla, Enugu,PHC, OWERRI,Okigwe
Adversaries: units of Federal 3 MC Division (MAIN), 1 Division
4 COMMANDO BRIGADE- of Commando Division
Commander: (yet to be ascertained)
Saw action: Umuahia, Uzuakoli sectors
Adversary: units of Federal 1 Division
8 COMMANDO BRIGADE – of Commando Division
Commander- Ananaba
Saw action: Umuahia, Uzuakoli sectors
Adversary: units of Federal 1 Division
12 COMMANDO BRIGADE- of Commando Division
Commander: Obi
Saw action: Umuahia, Uzuakoli sectors
Adversary: units of Federal 1 Division
DIVISIONAL COMMANDERS
101 DIVISION: Brigadier Banjo (later disbanded)
11 DIVISION: Brigadier Conrad Nwawo, Colonel Joe Achuzia, Brigadier Patrick Amadi
12 DIVISION- Colonel Festus Akagha, Brigadier Eze
13 DIVISION- Brigadiers Patrick Amadi, Conrad Nwawo
14 DIVISION- Brigadiers Ben Nwajei, Ogbugo Kalu
15 DIVISION- Colonels Joe Achuzia, Linus Ohanehi
COMMANDO DIVISION- Brigadier Conrad Nwawo
“S” DIVISION- Colonels Tim Onwuatuegwu, Asoya
HONORABLE MENTION
Corporal Nwafor
Captain Amako – Nsukka Front
Major Jonathan Uchendu
Credits
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