By admin
The title of this blog above, refers to an editorial in the Times on; May 28 1968, just 2 days short of the Biafran 1st year of independence from Nigeria, during the Biafran war.
The writer was calling for an arms embargo on both waring sides, particularly the Nigerians who were heavily supplied by the British, and the Russians. They dismissed the maintained British arguement that, Russia or someone else was willing to fill the void left by a British ban, by saying that the influence of a British arms embargo on Nigeria will be far reaching, and would have a knock on effect, prompting others to follow suit with embargos as well.
They warned of an increasing bloodbath as the Nigerian forces prepare to venture into the Igbo hinterland, following the fall of Porth Harcourt, as stiff resistance is expected from the Biafrans who are fighting for survival and fear genocide from the advancing Nigerian forces.
BIAFRANS PROTEST OUTSIDE 10 DOWNING STREET
The Biafran war raged on different fronts, i.e. Military, Financial; as seen by Nigeria changing its currency to undermine Biafra’s economy, Diplomatic; as seen by all the Peace conferences initiated by the Organisation of African Unity (O.A.U), Political and Media; as seen by very successful Biafran Propaganda, that embarassed the British and put a lot of pressure on Nigeria, and even the Religious front which Sir (returned to the British) Francis Akanu Ibiam successfully brought the World council of Churches to support Biafra, whilst Chief Bola Ige pushed against it all for Nigeria.
A front rarely highlighted, is the protest in diaspora by both sides but more voiceferous and oustanding by the Biafrans in Diaspora, especially the UK. there were protest in most Western countries but the UK protest, were the most remarkable. I have attached pictures of Biafrans, especially their women marching to the British Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing street via Nigeria High Commission at the nearby Northumberland road to protest against the British support for Nigeria and to force the Brits from supplying arms to Nigerian and to raise general awareness about the war to the British public and world at large. The Biafran war is arguably the first televised war and these protest were televised.
These protest were also a huge part of the war effort for the Biafrans, as they brought the plight of there people back home to the British public, who unlike their government, were quite sympathetic to the sufferings of the Biafrans during the war. These protest helped push for the British Parliament to debate the Biafran war during its sittings and helped put pressure on the Nigerian government to ease its indiscriminate bombing of non-military targets in Biafra, that was killing a lot of civilians.
Please look closely at these moving; historic; and classically epic pictures to see our mothers, fathers, aunties, uncles etc protesting, do you recognise anyone ? please drop us a line if you do thanks.
Please click on pictures to enlarge and leave a comment below:
