519:. Adekunle stated that he would be able to capture all three cities in two weeks. Adekunle's strategy was to surround a city and starve it into submission before attacking its weakened defenders. After 12 days of fierce fighting in Aba, the 3MCDO managed to capture the city on September 14, followed by Owerri on September 16. When the 3MCDO was pushed back at Umuahia, the Nigerians retreated to Owerri, where they set up defenses in and around the city. The Biafrans made their way down the Aba-Umuahia road and managed to capture the entire road along with Aba on October 15.
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597:, which prompted accusations of deliberately targeting civilians. The government ordered the Nigerian Air Force to avoid civilian targets but they disregarded this request and continued to bomb towns and Red Cross shelters. In late February, Gen. Gowon visited the 16th Brigade in Owerri and attempted to encourage them to keep fighting until re-enforcements could be sent.
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On 15 January the
Biafran 60th Brigade attacked Owerri and were able to force the 16th Division to retreat across the Otamini Bridge. Instead of pursuing the retreating Nigerians, the hungry and half-naked Biafran soldiers discovered the Nigerians' food and clothing supplies and decided to have their
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was distracted by the anti-tax riots in the west, the
Biafran Brigadier Alexander Madiebo encircled Owerri while a unit of Biafran soldiers attacked Nigerian supply convoys attempting to enter the city. The Biafrans were assisted by heavy rain and mud which slowed down supply convoys even further.
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On 24 January the
Nigerian government renewed its offensive and began bombing Biafran positions in the area. After five days of continuous air strikes, the Biafrans remained in their original positions; the Nigerian government knew that Owerri was encircled and they couldn't do anything about it.
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and were able to get within 1 km of the city. Major
Achuzie demanded total control of the S Division but was refused by Onwuatuegwu and the two men almost shot each other after drawing their guns. President Ojukwu stepped in and gave Major Achuzie control of the S Division for one week,
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stayed in their original position, while suffering heavy casualties. The
Biafran 68th Battalion under Major Ikeji gained control of a stretch of the Port Harcourt road from Owerri to the Otamiri River, establishing a link with the 63rd Brigade.
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continuing the frontal assault on Owerri. Achuzie's plan ultimately failed and he retreated after suffering heavy casualties, Ojukwu then immediately restored
Onwuatuegwu as commander and began drawing up new plans for invading Owerri.
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began the main assault on Owerri, in which over 50,000 rounds of ammunition, 300 mortars, 200 howitzer shells, and 20 anti-tank weapons were fired. The assault lasted for two days but the 3,000-man
Nigerian 16th Division under Colonel
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attacked Owerri and secured control over 70% of the city. Biafran soldiers began intercepting radio waves that revealed the 16th
Brigade was going to execute all Biafran POWs due to a lack of food. The Swedish pilot
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On 14 March
Nigerian troops attempted to capture the Omanelu-Umuakpu and Elele-Ubimini-Awarra roads but were beaten back by defending Biafran soldiers, leaving them isolated and short of food.
658:. Once Owerri was retaken, the Biafran capital was once again moved, now to Owerri. The Biafrans held on to Owerri for over eight months until the Nigerian 3rd Marine Division, under Col.
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487:. The capture was a major victory for the Biafrans because the victory opened up telephone lines, enhanced road telecommunications, and showed that with stiff resistance,
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made a frontal assault on the 16th
Brigade but was forced to halt after suffering heavy casualties. Major Onwuatuegwu placed half of his men under the command of Major
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On 24 April the remaining 300 soldiers of the Nigerian 16th Division began fighting their way out of Owerri and escaped into Nigerian held territory on 25 April.
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574:; the 68th Battalion attempted to capture Avu but were beaten back by the Nigerian 16th Brigade. By the end of the day, the Biafrans controlled much of the
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road and began planting mines, digging ditches, and laying trees across it in an attempt to block any Nigerian reinforcements from entering
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fill. The Nigerian 16th Brigade was able to regroup and made a counter-attack across the Otamini Bridge, causing the Biafrans to retreat.
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On 7 February both the Nigerian Air Force and Egyptian mercenaries bombed out and completely destroyed the villages of Umohiagu and
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and 63rd Brigade under Col. Lambert Ihenacho moved towards Owerri, capturing the villages of
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fighters, constantly hounded Nigerian air drops, making Nigerian food supplies scarce.
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In July 1968, commander of the 3rd Marine Commando (3MCDO), Colonel
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On 6 January 1969 the Biafran 60th Brigade captured Umuakpu,
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and his "Biafra Babies" fighter squadron, consisting of six
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Two days before Owerri's capture, the Biafran capital,
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On 3 December the Biafran 14th Division under Colonel
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On 5 December the Biafran 60th Brigade under Colonel
62:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
527:On 15 October 1968, while Nigerian Head of State
603:On 15 March the Biafran S Division under Major
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654:'s 1st Division and the capital was moved to
563:, followed by Avu and Afrola on 29 December.
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631:On 20 April Etuk's second-in-command, Major
615:On 31 March the Biafran 14th Division under
161:(6 months, 1 week and 3 days)
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122:Learn how and when to remove this message
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503:began making plans for an invasion of
515:in a military operation he nicknamed
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60:adding citations to reliable sources
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159:October 15, 1968 – April 25, 1969
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27:Battle in the Nigerian Civil War
47:needs additional citations for
491:could defeat Nigerian forces.
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681:"THE MORTAL gods OF BIAFRA"
679:Warlord (29 January 2019).
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717:Battles involving Nigeria
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227:Commanders and leaders
622:Carl Gustaf von Rosen
285:Casualties and losses
266:Carl Gustaf von Rosen
56:improve this article
605:Timothy Onwuatuegwu
250:Timothy Onwuatuegwu
712:Nigerian Civil War
485:Nigerian Civil War
332:Nigerian Civil War
146:Nigerian Civil War
727:Conflicts in 1968
660:Olusegun Obasanjo
501:Benjamin Adekunle
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71:"Siege of Owerri"
18:Capture of Owerri
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45:This article
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688:. Retrieved
685:Warlord Blog
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626:MFI-9 Junior
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543:and Elelem.
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529:Yakubu Gowon
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194:Belligerents
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112:January 2021
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54:Please help
49:verification
46:
29:
617:Ogbugo Kalu
537:Ogbugo Kalu
394:2nd Onitsha
368:1st Onitsha
290:1,800-2,700
258:Ogbugo Kalu
706:Categories
690:22 January
666:References
633:Ted Hamman
553:E. A. Etuk
548:Azum Asoya
379:Tiger Claw
262:Azum Asoya
237:Ted Hamman
82:newspapers
642:Aftermath
523:The siege
465:Tail-Wind
423:Hiroshima
233:E.A. Etuk
595:Ozu Abam
429:Blockade
272:Strength
166:Location
144:Part of
648:Umuahia
568:Umuagwo
513:Umuahia
495:Prelude
450:Umuahia
444:Leopard
404:Abagana
352:UNICORD
293:unknown
280:unknown
243:†
208:Nigeria
175:Nigeria
96:scholar
580:Owerri
572:Obinze
561:Abiaka
541:Eziama
511:, and
509:Owerri
489:Biafra
417:Owerri
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221:Biafra
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182:Result
171:Owerri
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373:Asaba
362:Enugu
277:3,000
103:JSTOR
89:books
692:2020
479:The
457:1970
436:1969
387:1968
345:1967
156:Date
75:news
656:Aba
505:Aba
411:OAU
58:by
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