How Five Days of Crisis Led Ojukwu to Declare Biafra

In 1966, coups and counter-coups triggered widespread killings of Easterners, mostly Igbo. Thousands died and millions fled home. After Lt Col Yakubu Gowon became head of state, Eastern Region governor Lt Col Chukwuemeka Ojukwu pressed him to halt the violence. They met in Aburi, Ghana, in January 1967 and agreed on a 12-point accord. Gowon later violated it. On May 26, 1967, Gowon issued Decrees 14 and 15, abolishing regions and ending resource control. From May 27 to 29, the Eastern Nigeria Consultative Forum met in Enugu, voted to secede, and named the new nation “Biafra.” On May 30, Ojukwu broadcast the declaration. The Nigerian flag was lowered, the Biafran flag was raised, and Ojukwu became head of state of Biafra.

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