Author: ssullivan65

 The final Nigerian offensive of the war took place January 7-12, 1970. The Nigerian forces successfully captured the strategically important towns of Owerri and Uli. Owerri was the Biafan capital at the end of the war (the final capital in a series of four capitals which kept changing due to territory changes during the war), and Uli was the location of the airfield “Annabelle” which was used to deliver humanitarian assistance and aid to Biafra. By this point in the war, Uli airfield had largely been destroyed by Nigerian forces, but the surrender at Uli—along with the capture of Owerii—were devastating blows to the Biafran forces and essentially meant the end of the war.

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Nigerian mercenaries celebrating after the surrender of Uli airfield

Landing at ‘Annabelle,’ Uli Airfield

 Oil production is extremely significant in Nigeria—before, during, and after the Nigeria-Biafra war—and it played a role of vital importance during the conflict of the late 1960s. Kwale, a small town located in southeastern Nigeria, was home to an oilfield since before the start of the war. However, in May 1969, Biafran soldiers raided the oilfield, killing 11 workers and technicians and capturing 18 expatriate workers. The Biafran soldiers claimed that the expatriates working with the Nigerians were helping them build roads, which aided in their fight against Biafra. The entire situation did little to serve the Biafran cause and, in fact, led to decreased international sympathy for the Biafrans. However, the Biafrans did not destroy much of the remaining oil infrastructure throughout the war.

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Central Intelligence Bulletin, dated 14 May 1969 (see pages 11-12 for Biafra information) 

In his statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, MacCracken explains the position of the CWS as it relates to the conflict and humanitarian crisis occurring in Biafra and Nigeria at large. He notes that the CWS is solely concerned with the humanitarian issues in Biafra and believes they must be separated from the larger political conflict. MacCracken also quotes at length a statement from the Fourth Assembly of the World Council of Churches meeting in Sweden (July 15, 1968), and the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America general board (September 13, 1968).

In terms of domestic work, MacCracken praises members of the American Jewish Committee for bringing together Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish organizations to coordinate humanitarian assistance in Biafra. He concludes by summarizing the concerns of the CWS and what they believe must be done going forward. 

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“Statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Concerning Relief Assistance in Nigeria and the Former Eastern Regions known as Biafra”

Reactions of the Governments of Nigeria and Biafra to the Role of the Catholic Church in the Nigeria-Biafra War”

The Bank of Biafra was created under Decree No. 3 of 1967 in order to ensure the normal functioning of the newly independent Biafran state. The first pieces of Biafran currency created were the 5 shillings coin and the £1 note. In 1969, more coins were issued (including the 1 shilling, 2.5 shilling, 10 shilling, the 3 pence, and the 6 pence), along with more bills including the £1, £5, and £10. 

The Bank of Biafra was initially located in Enugu, but it changed places multiple times throughout the war in order to avoid capture by advancing Nigerian forces. During the course of the three-year war, there were between £115-140 Biafran pounds created and use in circulation in the country. 

The National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America, which was officially organized in 1950, began as an organization that strove to reduce global inequalities and injustices. During the Nigeria-Biafra war, the National Council of Churches made a powerful statement, proclaiming, among other things, that the mass starvation occurring in Biafra would undoubtedly reach the level of a “major human tragedy.” The report by the National Council of Churches was included within a larger statement regarding relief assistance in Nigeria and Biafra that was presented to the US Senate in October 1968. Other testimonials quoted in the Senate statement include remarks by the Church World Service and the World Council of Churches. 

The statement by the National Council of Churches quoted in the Senate statement before the Foreign Relations Committee includes the following:

“The mass starvation in Nigeria – Biafra that is now occurring, and which will increase in the next few weeks, reaching overwhelming proportions probably in October, is a major human tragedy. Our church people, in company with many others in the U.S.A. and other countries are spontaneously giving money, and publically urging that action be taken to prevent further starvation. 

Voluntary agencies of different nations, including our own, and churches especially, have alone under severe difficulty been able to get some relief supplies in. The political issues in the conflict are serious. But we are speaking concerning vast starvation, and are convinced that large scale relief of this human suffering must not be subordinated to the tragic conflicts of battle.

We appreciate the leadership of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), especially the efforts of its President Emperor Haile Selassie, to secure the agreement whereby relief supplies may be distributed. We support continued efforts by the OAU, confident that African leadership is essential, and hopeful that it will be successful in the immediate future. Under that leadership, many peoples and nations will be willing to help in the massive relief effort now required.

We note with appreciation the offer of President Johnson, expressed to Emperor Haile Selassie, to provide large scale relief supplies. We urge the President, using every effective influence, to continue his efforts toward the objective of immediate delivery of desperately needed relief supplies to children and adults who are starving. 

Appeals for increased money for relief are already out to our churches; we pledge our efforts to secure generous support of church people and agencies in this effort.”

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“Statement Before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Concerning Relief Assistance in Nigeria and the Former Region known as Biafra”

The American Jewish Emergency Effort for Biafran Relief began with 21 national Jewish organizations committed to humanitarian relief in Biafra. The Emergency Effort confined its activities to fundraising and decided to allocate its funds to existing relief organizations rather than endeavoring to provide aid and relief privately by itself.  Within two weeks of the formation of the Emergency Effort, nearly $50,000 had been donated. 

Irish priests campaigning in the US for increased aid and relief to Biafra met with leaders from the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in July 1968, and the group spoke about the similarities between the images coming from Biafra and those that emerged after the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. According to the AJC’s director of Interreligious Affairs, the photographs were “to Jewish eyes, 1968 version of photographs of Jewish children taken in the 1940’s in such other notorious sites [as] Bergen-Belsen, Thereisenstadt [sic], Auschwitz.” 

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Article: “Have you ever seen millions of children starving to death?” New York Times, Thursday, August 4, 1968

Book: “Auschwitz – Biafra” in Pogrom I, no. 4/5, August/September, 1970, cover page

The WCC met for its fourth annual assembly in Uppsala, Sweden July 4-20, 1968. During the meetings, the WCC discussed the current state of the Nigeria-Biafra conflict, specifically the humanitarian aspect, and examined efforts taken to help relieve and reduce the human suffering occurring. The WCC called for peace and increased humanitarian assistance to those living in dire circumstances.

Present at the WCC meeting was Dr. Akanu Ibiam, one of the six presidents of the WCC and a former governor of the Eastern region of Nigeria. Ibiam advocated on behalf of the Biafran people and ensured the commencement of a nightly airlift to Biafra. After the WCC assembly, Ibiam traveled throughout Canada hoping to raise awareness and aid for the Biafran people.

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Though not a scholarly article, this blog post from the Critical Investigations into Humanitarianism in Africa (CIHA) discusses the roles of faith-based intervention during the Nigeria-Biafra War. The post is written by Professor Mercy Oduyoye who is the current director of the Institute of African Women in Religion and Culture at Trinity Theological Seminary in Ghana. In the past she worked as the Youth Education Secretary and then as a Deputy General Secretary for the World Council of Churches. Her blog post is titled “Biafra Faith-Based Humanitarian Intervention: Basis in the World Council of Churches.”

A Charge to Humanity

Photograph: a young Biafran carrying weapons. The photographs used in the May publication of Paris Match were taken during Caron’s trip to Biafra in April 1968, when he focused primarily on documenting Biafran soldiers. Caron made three trips to Biafra during the war.

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Article: Gilles Caron’s Coverage of the Crisis in Biafra

Irish Father Anthony Byrne was working as a missionary in eastern Nigeria during the Nigeria-Biafra War and was instrumental in organizing airlifts throughout the war. He was nicknamed “Green Pimpernel” and directed the Catholic Church Caritas Agency as well. Despite Byrne’s courageous work during the war, his actions were controversial on the world stage because numerous African and Western governments support Nigerian unity. Some people credit Byrne with saving the lives of nearly 1 million people via the airlifts. 

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Interview: Father Tony Byrne where he discusses his experiences in Biafra.