The First Invasion of Onitsha (October 4 − October 12, 1967) was a large military conflict between Biafran and Nigerian forces. The Nigerian 2nd Division managed to seize control of Onitsha for less than one day before being massacred by Biafran soldiers. Prelude On September 20, 1967, the Nigerian 2nd Division under General Murtala Muhammed forced all Biafran soldiers within Nigeria's Mid-Western Region to retreat eastwards back towards Biafra. In an attempt to halt the Nigerian advance retreating Biafran soldiers destroyed the River Niger Bridge at Onitsha, trapping the Nigerians on the other side of the river. In October 1967 2nd Division soldiers entered Asaba and began setting up artillery positions on the banks of the Niger River while 2nd Division soldiers began preparing for an invasion.

invasion of onitsha

Cybercop2002:
invasion of onitsha

The Biafran 11th Division, which
consisted of the 11th, 12th and 18th
Battalions, was given the task of
defending Onitsha. The 12th Battalion
under Col. Mike Inveso was responsible
for defending the area between Idah and
Nsugbe, the 18th Battalion under Col.
Assam Nsudoh was responsible for
defending Onitsha town, and the 11th
Battalion under Maj. Joseph Achuzie
defended the area between Atani and
Ndoni. The beaches around Onitsha were
heavily mined and were backed up by
Biafran machine guns and anti-tank
weapons. Because the Biafrans had
detonated the Niger River Bridge Gen.
Murtala Muhammed was left with the
decision of crossing the Niger River at
Idah or making and amphibious attack on
Onitsha. Gen. Muhammed disregarded
advice from the Nigerian Army HQ in
Lagos and chose to attack Onitsha head
on. On October 4, 1967, Gen. Muhammed
ordered Nigerian artillery to begin
bombarding Onitsha. Eight days later Gen.
Muhammed personally lead a 10-boat
armada carrying 5,000 Nigerian soldiers
across the Niger River into Onitsha. The
Biafran 18th Battalion resisted stubbornly
but were forced to retreat in disarray.
However, instead of pursuing the
retreating Biafrans and occupying the
town the Nigerians turned their attention
to looting and burning the Onitsha Market
to the ground. This gave the 18th
Battalion time to reorganize and make a
counter-attack. The 11th Battalion under
Maj. Achuzie made their way up the New
Market road while the 18th Battalion
under Col. Nsudoh swung down the Old
Market road towards Onitsha. Nigerian
2nd Division soldiers stationed in Onitsha
were totally routed and most were either
killed or taken prisoner. Undaunted, Gen.
Muhammed ordered a 5,000 man reserve
from Lagos to cross the Niger River into
Onitsha but they were once again
defeated. Gen. Muhammed ordered troops
under Lt. Col. Ipoola Alani Akinrinade to
make a third assault on Onitsha but were
once again thwarted by the Biafran 11th
and 18th Battalions. It was now when
Gen. Muhammed realized there was no
hope in attacking Onitsha from Asaba and
began heading north towards Idah.

Aftermath of the invasion of onitsha

Cybercop2002:
Aftermath of the invasion of onitsha

On November 19, 1967, mercenaries from
the Soviet Union and United Arab Republic
flying MiG-17s began bombing areas
around Onitsha, devastating the civilian
population. In December 1967 the
Nigerian 2nd Division and 6th Battalion
under Gen. Murtala Muhammed crossed
the Niger River at Idah and stationed in
Enugu. On January 2, 1968, the Nigerians
moved towards Onitsha in a two pronged
attack launched from two axes. The 2nd
Division rolled through Biafran held
territory including numerous towns and
cities. On January 19 Nigerian troops
attacked and occupied Awka, giving the
2nd Division a direct route to Onitsha. The
Biafran 11th Division under Maj. Joseph
Achuzie fought fiercely against the
Nigerians and managed to hold them off
for over 3 months before Abagana was
captured on March 20 followed by
Onitsha less than 24 hours later.

I am enjoying it carry on please

Nice one. Such History should be in our school curriculum.

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