Biafra war: We were not fighting Nigeria alone – Kanayo

DDM News

The Nigerian Civil War was more than a domestic uprising.

According to Kanayo Esinulo, a former Biafran war veteran, the conflict became an international affair.

Esinulo once served as a close aide to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the leader of the defunct Republic of Biafra.

In a recent interview with journalist Edmund Obilo, Esinulo shared new insights about the war.

He revealed that Biafra was not only fighting Nigerian forces.

He said they were up against a powerful combination of foreign-backed militaries.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the revelations offered by Esinulo reveal the overwhelming odds Biafra faced.

The civil war, which lasted from 1967 to 1970, resulted in immense human suffering.

Estimates say between one to three million people, mostly civilians, died during the conflict.

Causes of death included starvation, aerial bombardments, and disease.

Esinulo emphasized the strategic importance of Uli airport during the war.

Uli, also known as Annabelle or Uli-Ihiala airstrip, served as Biafra’s primary gateway to the outside world.

It was a critical hub for the movement of humanitarian aid, arms, and food supplies.

According to Esinulo, this airport faced repeated bombings by aircraft flown by Egyptian pilots.

He added that these warplanes were of Soviet-Russian origin.

This meant that Nigeria’s allies were not only supplying equipment but also trained personnel.

Esinulo stated that the aim of these attacks was to cripple Biafra’s supply lines.

Destroying Uli would cut off Biafra’s only major route for receiving external assistance.

He pointed out that the involvement of Egyptian pilots signaled deep international support for Nigeria.

Esinulo claimed this was not just a Nigerian affair but a broader international offensive.

He said the Nigerian side enjoyed backing from countries across the Arab world.

He emphasized that this support came in the form of both material and strategic military aid.

Ojukwu, according to Esinulo, often described the involvement of Arab nations as “Pan-Arabism.”

Pan-Arabism is a movement aimed at political and cultural unity among Arab states.

In this context, Esinulo explained, it represented the collective strength of Arab countries backing Nigeria.

He stressed that many people do not understand the full extent of foreign involvement in the war.

“We were not fighting Nigeria alone,” he said.

“We were fighting almost the entire Arab world.”

He recalled how the constant bombardments of Uli airport reflected this reality.

The Biafran forces, already strained by limited resources, were overwhelmed.

Nigeria, by contrast, enjoyed massive international support.

Arab countries, in particular, provided advanced weapons and military expertise.

Egypt’s participation, especially with trained pilots, gave Nigeria an airpower advantage.

Meanwhile, Biafra struggled to maintain even basic supply lines.

International organizations like the Red Cross offered humanitarian aid.

However, official recognition of Biafra remained extremely limited.

France reportedly provided unofficial support, while Israel and some church groups sent aid.

Still, this was nowhere near the scale of backing Nigeria received.

The Soviet Union also aligned itself with Nigeria, further complicating Biafra’s chances.

This placed Biafra in a position of extreme disadvantage.

Historians have noted the civil war had Cold War dimensions.

Global powers used Nigeria as a proxy for their own geopolitical struggles.

Esinulo’s statements add to the understanding of how deeply international interests shaped the conflict.

His testimony reveals that the war was more complex than a regional rebellion.

It involved ideological alliances, foreign pilots, and sophisticated warfare.

Esinulo’s account urges Nigerians to reexamine the history of the war.

He believes the narrative must reflect the foreign military presence and influence.

The Biafran struggle, in his view, was a fight for survival against a well-supported global coalition.

His reflections serve as a reminder of how global politics can shape local tragedies.

As Nigeria continues to reflect on its past, voices like Esinulo’s bring crucial clarity.

They help new generations understand the real magnitude of the conflict.

The Biafran War remains one of the darkest and most defining periods in Nigeria’s history.

Esinulo’s account sheds new light on why it must never be forgotten.

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