Nigeria: Anybody's War

"If Northern soldiers set one foot in side Biafran soil, not a single inch of Nigerian territory will be safe from our attack." That was the vow of Biafra Secessionist Leader Odumegwu Ojukwu just before Nigeria's federal troops, led by Major General Yakubu Gowon, invaded Ojukwu's Eastern Region six weeks ago. Ojukwu was slow to make good his threat. But last week, having fought his attackers to a standstill, he was ready to take the offensive. In a swift twelve-hour drive, he captured the federal government's oil-rich Midwestern State (pop: 2,500,000) with impressive ease.

The operation began in the predawn...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!