Chapter 3: THE DECLARATION
On May 30, 1967, in the heart of Enugu, Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu stood before an anxious crowd. With the eyes of an entire people fixed upon him, he delivered the long-awaited proclamation: the birth of the Republic of Biafra. The declaration was more than a political statement—it was a call for survival, for dignity, and for the right to exist without fear of persecution.
The news spread like wildfire. Across the land, bells tolled, and celebrations erupted. People danced in the streets, waving the new Biafran flag—red, black, and green with a rising golden sun. It was a moment of triumph, a dream realized after years of oppression. The people of Biafra believed in their newfound independence, convinced that they had severed ties with a Nigeria that had failed to protect them.
However, the declaration also marked the beginning of an era fraught with uncertainty. Nigeria immediately denounced Biafra's secession as illegal, branding it treasonous. Within hours, diplomatic tensions escalated, and the world's superpowers took sides. Britain, still wielding influence over its former colony, sided with the Nigerian government, while a few sympathetic nations, including France, quietly supported Biafra's right to self-rule.
The stage was set for a conflict that would determine the fate of millions. While Biafrans rejoiced, the weight of war loomed over them. The declaration was a bold step toward freedom, but the battle for survival had only just begun.