NigerianCivil War, war between Nigeria’s federal government and the secessionist state Biafra that lasted from 1967 to 1970.See full list on britannica.comNigeria became an independent country on October 1, 1960. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was its first federal prime minister—he had held that position since 1957—and Nnamdi Azikiwe became its president of the Senate, which was a largely ceremonial role. Following a UN-supervised referendum in 1961, the northern part of the Trust Territory of the Cameroons joined Nigeria’s Northern region, while in October the Southern Cameroons united with Cameroun to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In an attempt to stave off ethnic conflict, Nigeria’s Mid-West region was created in 1963 by dividing the Western region. Conflicts were endemic, as regional leaders protected their privileges; the south complained of northern domination, and the north feared that the southern elite was bent on capturing power. A last-ditch effort to save the country was made in January 1967, when the Eastern delegation, led by Lieut. (later Gen.) Odumegwu Ojukwu, agreed to meet the others on neutral ground at Aburi, Ghana. The situation deteriorated, however, after differences developed over the interpretation of the accord. Fighting broke out in early July. Within weeks the conflict had escalated into a full-scale civil war.Special offer for students! Shortly thereafter, federal troops entered Enugu, the provisional capital of Biafra, and penetrated the Igbo heartland. France provided weapons to Biafra, while the U.K. and the Soviet Union sent arms to the federal government. The oil boom that followed the war allowed the federal government to finance development programs and consolidate its power. In 1974 Gowon postponed until 1976 the target date for a return to civilian rule, but he was overthrown in July 1975 and fled to Great Britain.Nigeria’s new head of state, Brig.