Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.), has insisted that the Biafra War was never aimed at the Igbo people but rather against those who took up arms to break Nigeria apart.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Gowon explained that the war effort under his leadership was directed at stopping secession and preserving the country’s unity, not targeting any ethnic group.

He said the Nigerian military was given strict orders to protect civilians, especially women and children, while engaging only those who posed a threat by taking up arms against the government.

“I had a responsibility and duty as a loyal Nigerian to keep the country whole. From the beginning, I ensured that this was not a war against Igbos as such, but one to stop the breaking up of Nigeria.”

“I gave a code of conduct of how the operations were to go; soldiers on the Nigerian side were to protect the people, especially women and children, and take up arms only against those who had taken arms against them. The number of people who were casualties of the war is not in millions. The other side also refused all attempts to send aid into their camp.”

“I think I have said that if the East does not break up from Nigeria, yes, and that was what I kept on saying, what I keep on saying, that if the East does not break up from Nigeria, I say, no, I have a responsibility to keep Nigeria, and as far as I’m concerned, that is my teaching.”

“And I won’t, but if the situation gets to this stage, when I have to choose between allowing the people to break up, you know, or having people to stop it, well, it would freeze the country. You know, I know where my responsibility is, because I have my loyalty, that loyalty, to the country.”

It could be recalled that the Biafra War, also known as the Nigerian Civil War, lasted from July 6, 1967, to January 13, 1970.

It began after the Eastern Region of Nigeria, led by Lt. Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, declared independence as the Republic of Biafra following ethnic violence and political unrest, especially against the Igbo people.

The Nigerian government under Gowon rejected the secession, leading to a brutal conflict. The war caused widespread devastation, particularly in Biafra, where a blockade led to mass starvation.

Over 1million civilians, mostly children, died from hunger and disease, and total casualties are estimated between one and three million.

Despite strong resistance, Biafra surrendered in January 1970. The federal government declared “no victor, no vanquished” and initiated a reconciliation process.

However, the war left deep scars and long-lasting ethnic and regional tensions in Nigeria, especially among the Igbo, who felt marginalised before, during, and after the conflict.

Biafra War Not Fight Against Igbos, But Secessionists Carrying Arms Against Governments – Gowon

I had a responsibility and duty as a loyal Nigerian to keep the country whole. From the beginning, I ensured that this was not a war against Igbos as such, but one to stop the… pic.twitter.com/FIutx639T7

— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) June 18, 2025

Two officials from the United States government were present at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, June 18, 2025, to observe the ongoing trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, according to the organisation.

IPOB said the presence of the U.S. observers “underscores the growing international concern over the manifestly unjust and politically motivated trial being orchestrated against our leader.”

In a press statement issued after the hearing, and signed by Comrade Emma Powerful, Media and Publicity Secretary for IPOB, the organisation described the day’s court proceedings as a “shambolic” display by the prosecution, claiming that its principal witness, codenamed PW-DDD, crumbled under “devastating” cross-examination by the defence.

According to IPOB, the government’s witness, described as a self-identified law enforcement operative, gave testimony that “rested heavily on hearsay, uncorroborated newspaper clippings, and allegations lacking any investigative or evidentiary backbone.”

The group noted that PW-DDD relied on a July 3, 2021, Vanguard newspaper article to claim that Kanu had ordered someone to “kill 2,000 people.” He reportedly also alleged Kanu authorised the attack on the Owerri Correctional Facility but admitted under cross-examination that he was neither present at the incident nor involved in any formal investigation of it.

The presiding judge reportedly rejected documents the prosecution attempted to tender, ruling that they were obtained without legal counsel being present with the defendant—”in violation of fair trial standards,” IPOB said.

Among the exhibits submitted by the prosecution was a report from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which IPOB noted “simply stated that broadcasting transmitters require regulatory approval and that the equipment was ‘intended for broadcasting.’”

IPOB argued that such a statement is “neither novel nor incriminating in any serious legal sense.”

Highlighting the defence’s efforts, IPOB said its lead counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, “utterly dismantled” the prosecution’s case during cross-examination.

PW-DDD allegedly admitted that “no official report of his so-called investigation was filed in court” and said it was “in a drawer in his office” instead. He also reportedly confirmed he had no personal knowledge of key individuals or events connected to the case.

“He never interviewed Uzomma Benjamin a.k.a. Onyearmy. He never interviewed the Vanguard journalist who allegedly took Onyearmy’s statement. He was not present at the Owerri Police Station or Correctional Centre during the alleged attacks,” the IPOB statement stated.

The witness also reportedly admitted to not interviewing anyone linked to the killing of a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak, and to receiving no witness information related to it.

When questioned about his reliance on newspaper reports, IPOB claimed he “shockingly affirmed that he believes everything he reads in newspapers,” but contradicted himself by dismissing a similar allegation involving Sunday Igboho published in the same outlet.

Under pressure from the defence, PW-DDD was allegedly made to read aloud a portion of the Vanguard article which labelled Onyearmy’s claims as “mere allegations without proof.”

According to IPOB, the witness gave “evasive and incoherent” answers throughout the session, prompting both the judge and the prosecution’s lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, to intervene.

The judge reportedly told the witness: “Answer the question put to you honestly without needless explanation and stop wasting my time.”

The witness replied that he would “chastise himself without the need for the court to admonish him.”

Summing up the court events, IPOB stated: “Today’s proceedings laid bare the comedy of errors that has become the Federal Government’s case against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”

IPOB concluded the statement by renewing its call for the “immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” insisting that “this entire process is a political persecution anchored in illegality, impunity, and vengeance—not law.”

SaharaReporters earlier reported that the traditional ruler of Opi Ancient Kingdom in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, Eze-Igwe Williams Ezugwu, had declared that President Bola Tinubu missed a historic opportunity to begin national healing by failing to release Kanu on Democracy Day, June 12, 2025.

The monarch, who is also the Secretary General of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), said Tinubu’s failure to act was “a missed opportunity to demonstrate statesmanship and empathy.”