1967 – Biafran Secession Looms: Prelude to Nigerian Civil War

On May 22, 1967, escalating tensions in southeastern Nigeria reached a boiling point as Lieutenant Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu intensified preparations for Biafra’s secession, which would be declared just days later. This moment marked a critical juncture in post-colonial African state formation. The Biafran conflict (1967–1970) became one of the bloodiest civil wars in African history, with over a million deaths, many from famine and blockades. While Biafra\’s May 30 declaration gets more attention, May 22 is key—it was the tipping point when diplomacy failed, and Nigeria\’s unity fractured. The looming crisis exposed the ethnic and regional fault lines inherited from colonial rule and highlighted the challenges of managing diverse post-independence African nations. Today, Biafra\’s legacy fuels ongoing debates about autonomy, federalism, and the rights of marginalized ethnic groups in Nigeria. May 22 remains a sobering reminder of how fragile sovereignty can be, even in liberated nations.