REVOLUTIONS, COUPS, & WARS OF NIGERIA TARIQ ELAGAMY

INDEPENDENCE Britain went into Africa and declared what we now know as Nigeria a country. Britain disregarded the many different ethnic and religious sects in Nigeria by lumping them all together. However, there were three dominant sects: Islamic Hausa-Fulani: (North) The Yoruba: (Southwest) The Igbo: (Southeast) These three sects had differing political systems which led to a very abrasive lifestyle within the country. The Yoruba and Igbo began to fight for an Independent Nigeria with Britain, hoping to restrict the conservative Hausa-Fulani in the North. The North agreed to this independence as long as they would be able to maintain more power than the South; all three sects agreed on these terms for the sole sake of independence.

ROAD TO CIVIL WAR When Nigeria became independent on Oct. 1, 1960, it soon was faced with unifying over 250 ethnic and linguistic groups. This led to violence in many parts of Nigeria, including religious attacks between the Christians and Muslims. The Igbo predominantly run the first military coup in the country; leads to the first military led state. The North then led a counter coup and retook the government. As a result of the counter coup massive pogroms occurred. About 30,000 people of Igbo descent were massacred. The South Eastern part of Nigeria secedes because of ‘electoral fraud.’ Civil War eventually breaks out and lasts for 31 months. Between Nigeria and the self proclaimed Republic of Biafra (predominantly Idos).