In This Photo:
Major General Yakubu Gowon at Dodan barracks, stands before a map of Nigeria as he brags to foreign journalists and reporters at a press conference that the war with Biafra would be over in 4-8 weeks.
However, things never went as planned as Gowon got the shock of his life after the galant Biafran troops brutally repelled Nigerian federal troops in their first advancement into the Biafran territory.
After several failed attempts to penetrate the walls of Biafra, Gowon abandoned his original plans which he bragged before journalists and resorted to foreign mercenaries assistance in carrying out reckless aerial bombardments targeted mainly at civilians in churches, market places, schools, hospitals and village squares.
With the help of the British government and others, Gowon successfully imposed a total blockade, cutting off Biafra's food and military supplies, and as a result, millions died of severe hunger and starvation.
The war which he (Gowon) boasted to end in 4-8 weeks lasted for 3 years (1967 - 1970).
It remains on record till date that Nigeria suffered enormous military casualties while on the side of Biafra it was mainly of civilians who died.
The war ended in "No Victor, No vanquish".
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