Biafra Biafran troops. In the latter stages, a Southern FMG offensive managed to break through the fierce resistance. It is believed that one of the major factors that sparked the war was the unilateral declaration of independence for Biafra made by Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in 1967. He eventually died 41 years after the end of the civil war on 26th November 2011 (aged 78) after a brief illness, many years after the internal conflict, secession and war. The former Republic of Biafra comprised over of land, with terrestrial borders shared with Nigeria to the north and west, and with Cameroon
Biafran armed forces Biafran armed forces The Biafran Armed Forces (BAF) were the military of the secessionist state of Biafra which existed from 1967 until 1970. At the beginning of the Nigerian Civil War, Biafra had 3,000 soldiers. This number grew as the war progressed, ultimately reaching 30,000. No official support for the Biafran Army came from any other nation, although arms were clandestinely acquired. Because of this, the Biafrans manufactured many of their weapons locally. Some Europeans served the Biafran cause: German born Rolf Steiner was a lieutenant colonel assigned to the 4th Commando Brigade, and Welshman Taffy Williams served as a