Biafra Genocide: Nigeria: Bloodletting and Mass Starvation, 1967-1970

One of Africa's greatest tragedies is the Biafran War, which resulted in the deaths of a million people, including many children, and exposed the continent's vulnerability to tribalism. The war also highlighted corruption, disunity, incompetence, and instability in Nigeria, which have persisted for half a century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 29 August 2018
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

One of the most tragic events in African history is the fact that a million people, mostly civilians, and a significant portion of them children, died in one of Africa's first post-independence wars. What makes this tragedy even more profound is that until this incident occurred, the world believed that Nigeria was immune to the devastating disease of tribalism. However, the Biafran War, which lasted almost four years, proved to be the most expansive tribal conflict the continent has ever witnessed, involving the forces of East and West, with the British siding with the Soviets.

Worse, the religious differences that emerged before and after the war continue to haunt us today. During the course of the hostilities, a multitude of other shortcomings surfaced in Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa. These shortcomings included the kind of corruption that had always been associated with oil-rich countries. Moreover, disunity, incompetence, and instability emerged, which have had a lasting impact on the country.

Following the rebels' capitulation, two bloody army coups took place, accompanied by a series of massacres, primarily targeting southern Christians by Muslim northerners. Half a century later, the slaughter continues, serving as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of tribalism and the ongoing struggle for peace and stability in Nigeria.

Weight: 328g
Dimension: 233 x 174 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526729132