COUPS AND THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR-YEAR 5

 

COUPS AND THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR

A coup is a sudden violent of a government and seizure of political power especially by the military.

Civil war is a war between groups within a country.

CAUSE OF NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR

After independence in 1960 the three major ethnic groups in 

Nigeria struggled for power. In 1966, a group of military officers planned a coup to overthrow the government of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. They killed him and some Northern leaders.

Then the military government under the leadership of Aguiyi 

Ironsi was established. Later in July 1966 a counter coup was 

planned and General Yakubu Gowon became the head of 

state.

Many Igbos who lived in the North were killed and in order to 

keep the peace, General Yakubu Gowon divided the country from four regions to twelve states.

However, Lieutenant Emeka Ojukwu did not accept the division. They decided to pull out of Nigeria and declared the independent Republic of Biafra. The military government of Nigeria viewed the secession as illegal.

After severally failed talk with the Biafrans, the Nigeria government declared war against the Republic of Biafra which lasted for three years.

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