Nigerian-Biafran Civil War Review: British officials’ bounty on Biafran heads was the flow of ARM SUPPLY.
See the attached documents for the list of ARM & AMMUNITION Britain supplied to the Nigerian military government in mid-1968.
Even though, it was widely reported these arms were used by the civilians instigated by the Nigerian military to kill the Igbos in Benin City, the British officials ramped up their supplies.
According to the New York Review, 1000 Igbos were killed in Benin by civilians instructed by Nigerian soldiers to carry out the heinous assault.
During the time, the Nigerian military under the order of Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo massacred 700 men and boys over the age of 10 in Asaba in what’s known in history as ASABA MASSACRE.
Earlier in the year, Biafran soldiers recorded tremendous success in repealing Nigerian soldiers in the Mid-western region in ORE & Benin City in Nigeria – not Benin Republic.
Biafran army retrieved back to the present-day Onitsha in Anambra state and blew up the Niger bridge to block the Nigerian army from crossing.
If you’re familiar with Nigerian geography, the River Niger linked Asaba to Onitsha. The two towns are so close about less than 10 minutes drive over the bridge.
When the Nigerian army pursued Biafran soldiers and realised the Niger bridge was blown off, they decided to settle in Asaba.
Despite this fact, the Indigenes surrendered to Nigerian soldiers and pledged allegiance to ONE NIGERIA waving a white flag that didn’t deter them from the brutal assaults & massacre of the people.
Back to the BRITISH officials: WE BLED THEY GAINED.
So, it turned out that Britain’s interest exceeded OIL & GAS. They wanted Nigeria to purchase military equipment from the United Kingdom post-civil war as requested by their Defense Secretary from 1964-70 Lord Dennis Healey – See his cartoon picture below.
Every single ammunition THEY SUPPLIED TO NIGERIA TO WASTE BIAFRANS came with a benefit they’re targeting to gain at human cost.
Finally, while the BRITISH OFFICIALS work closely with the NIGERIAN COUNTERPART, they were yet to speak to BIAFRAN OFFICIALS IN 1968.
Despite the latter’s several attempts to reach out to the COLONIAL MASTERS. The British officials sought permission from Nigeria to even speak to Biafra.
