Nigerian Civil War

Multiple Choice

When was the Nigerian Civil War?

• About 50 years ago

• About 100 years ago

• It's happening today.

Multiple Choice

What was the main cause of death during the war?

• Gunshot wounds

• Hunger

• Nuclear Bomb

Multiple Choice

What's the other name for the Nigerian Civil War?

• Igbo War

• Nigerian War for Independence

• Biafra War

Multiple Choice

Some Nigerians today support the idea of separating from the country, aka another war.

• True

• False

From History.com:

Five weeks after its secession from Nigeria, the breakaway Republic of Biafra is attacked by Nigerian government forces. In 1960, Nigeria gained independence from Britain. Six years later, the Muslim Hausas in northern Nigeria began massacring the Christian Igbos in the region, prompting tens of thousands of Igbos to flee to the east, where their people were the dominant ethnic group. The Igbos doubted that Nigeria’s oppressive military government would allow them to develop, or even survive, so on May 30, 1967, Lieutenant Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu and other non-Igbo representatives of the area established the Republic of Biafra, comprising several states of Nigeria.

Multiple Choice

This history channel source gives us a new factor for the conflict. What is it?

• Money

• Religion

• Natural Disaster

• Technology

Multiple Choice

What does secession mean?

• to break away, leave a government

• to back down, surrender

Part 2 of the history.com article:

After diplomatic efforts by Nigeria failed to reunite the country, war between Nigeria and Biafra broke out in July 1967. Ojukwu’s forces made some initial advances, but Nigeria’s superior military strength gradually reduced Biafran territory. The state lost its oil fields–its main source of revenue–and without the funds to import food, an estimated one million of its civilians died as a result of severe malnutrition. On January 11, 1970, Nigerian forces captured the provincial capital of Owerri, one of the last Biafran strongholds, and Ojukwu was forced to flee to the Ivory Coast. Four days later, Biafra surrendered to Nigeria.

Multiple Choice

Which is true?

• Nigeria found new oil fields, but it wasn't enough money to win the war.

• Nigeria lost its oil fields and couldn't afford weapons.

• Nigeria lost its oil fields and couldn't afford enough food.

Multiple Choice

Biafra was...

• A part of Nigeria that tried to leave and FAILED

• A part of Nigeria that tried to leave and is still SEPARATE today