Sam Ohuabunwa - The Port Harcourt Volunteer

ThePort Harcourt Volunteer

TheNigeria-Biafra War from the Perspective of a Young Combatant on theBiafran Side.

Copyright 2016 Sam Ohuabunwa

Published by GENIIT-T Consulting Nigeria Limited

License Notes

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Since the Nigeria-Biafra war ended, I have wanted towrite this book. But always dithered. My experiences during the warand my miraculous deliverances from many of the dangeroussituations I got into, amazed me to no end. Each time I told myfamily, friends or audiences some of these experiences, theymarveled at me and looked at me in bewilderment. Many encouraged meto put those experiences in writing.

I am thankful toGod that Forty-Five years after the war ended; I am finally able toaccomplish this desire. In writing this story at this time, I wishto achieve a number of objectives. First, I want to present thestory of the Nigeria-Biafra war in a manner that has not been doneby previous authors - from the perspective of a young combatant onthe Biafran side. Most of the stories have been written by mucholder participants especially from the Nigerian side. A couple ofthem have focused on the big political issues while some have beenwritten to settle scores- political and military. Mine isessentially a human story of life and experiences in the war time.Secondly, I have written this story to help younger generations ofNigerians, especially those born after the war like my children andgrandchildren to know about what caused the war and how we managedto survive. Thirdly, I have written to help balance some of thenarratives that tended to suggest that Biafra happened because ofthe ambition of one man- Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. No, Biafra wasan inevitability given what happened. And I believe, should whathappened happen again, similar or worse things wouldhappen.

Fourthly, thisbook is written to remind all Nigerians that another 'Biafra oranother civil war could happen if we do not take deliberate effortsto solidify the unity of Nigeria and make it unshakeable. Atseveral points since the Biafra war ended, the unity of Nigeria hasbeen threatened and each time, the Country was paralysed with fearof possible breakup of the Federation. Our Federation remainsunstable and we must do something definite to stabilize it once andfor all time, if at all possible. Fifthly, I believe that there areseveral moral lessons to be learnt from the story, both for theyoung and the old, civilian or military. Sixth and lastly, thisbook has been written to showcase the unquantifiable grace of Godover my life even when I was still disobedient. But Godcommendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,Christ died for us" - Romans 5:8.

The Book hastwelve chapters and reads like a thriller. It starts in Chapter Onewith the scary title: The day I tasted death. This is thestory of my last day in School as the war started in July 1967. Itis the pathetic story of the consequence of teenagers engaging inunacceptable indulgence and which should teach the youth, that'wine' is a mocker and that 'strong drink' should only be "given tothose ready to perish" - Proverbs 20:1; 31:6. It is also a clarioncall to Parents to be aware what they teach their children by theirsocial activities, and also reveals to them what peer pressure cando to their otherwise "well bought up and well behaved" children.We need to watch and pray always over our children. Chaptertwo-The Birth of Biafra, is my personal recollections ofwhat led to the birth of Biafra. It was not premeditated but wasforced on the Eastern Nigerians (especially the Igbo) who becamevictims of mass murder, harassment and abuse all over Nigeria(especially in the North). It was a popular move, which enjoyed theapplause and initial support of most Eastern Nigerians but as thepains and price of sovereignty became more obvious, support beganto wane.

Chapter three-The Port Harcourt Volunteer, which is also the title of thebook tells the story of my engagement with the "win the warefforts". Zealous for action but having failed to be accepted assoldier largely on account of age, I volunteered for otherquasi-military functions which put me much on harm's way. Chapterfour- Soldier Without Number, speaks of the circumstancesthat eventually led me into the Biafra Army while chapter Five -Trying to Capture ARMOURED Cars with Bare Hands, speaks ofmy military training in the school of infantry (where army officerswere trained) and how I finished ahead of most of my mates in amost unusual turn of events. Chapter Six- Uzuakoli and The EnemyBehind, is the story of my first encounter with real battleunder the command of an eccentric senior officer and how I losthalf of my officers in one day. Chapter 7 - The Battle forAba, describes the series of battles and risks I experiencedand the miraculous recapture of Ngwa High School, a feat that shotme to prominence in my unit. Chapter 8- The ConscriptedSoldier tells the story of a very unpleasant experience whereas a serving Military officer on official leave, I was'conscripted' to go and fight in another sector of the war and mydramatic escape. Chapter 9- The Invisible Soldier is theepic of the thriller that this whole story is. This is where thetremendous grace of God in my life throughout the war time seemedto have climaxed. The miraculous deliverances were legion and manyof them remain inexplicable, just because they were exactlymiracles. Chapter 10 is The Wounded Soldier, and itdescribes my last battles in the Nigeria-Biafra war and how I gotshot and wounded, then moved from one hospital to another until thewar ended. Chapter 11- The Biafra Boy was my experienceimmediately after the war and the struggle to reintegrate intonormal society and resume school, disrupted for three years. Thefinal Chapter, 12 is a kind of prologue (or epilogue), thatattempts to situate the Nigeria-Biafra War (1967-1970) in thecontinuing effort to forge a truly united Country. Though the pointis made that the Nigeria-Biafra War may have been Nigeria's war ofUnity, preventing another war since then, it is further argued thatNigeria's unity is not a foregone conclusion. Much more needs to bedone to consolidate Nigeria's unity and remove constant threats andfears, and allow uninterrupted and wholesome development of theNation.

In conclusion, Imust emphasize that this story is not written to open old wounds,nor to incite hatred or recriminations, nor to promote or fanembers of division among our people. It is rather written to do theexact opposite. Indeed, it is written to help remind us of theconsequences of allowing Nigeria pass this route a second time andto help direct all Nigerians, young and old ( especially those whodid not experience the pains of the War or who may have forgotten)to take actions that will promote Nigeria's unity and avert anypart of the Nation being subjected to the indignities and travestythat the People of Eastern Nigeria( especially the Igbo ) weresubjected to, that forced them to seek self-determination. Ialso believe that this story has relevance to all parts of theWorld where the pains of Nation building and the integration ofDifferent Nationalities into Nation States continue to generateglobal interest even in older Federations as happened in the UnitedKingdom in 2015 with the vote for possible Scottish Independence.Our Country has lessons to learn in building a lasting Nationalunity. I am hopeful that we are learning and that this book willpush us further. Finally, since this book has been writtenprimarily from personal recollections of events that happened overForty-five years ago, with the eyes of a youth, it is possible thatcertain events, names and places may have been misplaced ormisrepresented. Let me apologize in advance to anyone who may feelmisrepresented or offended by my narrative. Nevertheless, sucherrors of omission or commission do not detract from the essentialtruth of these personal experiences. I do hope that all who readwill benefit from the import of this Story. God bless.