Within
few weeks of the declaration of the sovereign state of Biafra, the
nascent Republic has to rally its able-bodied youths to rise up
to defend their fatherland against hordes of Nigerian troops that
were amassing in its northern border. Without any arsenal of armaments
to rely on, Biafrans prepared to ward off the invaders with anything
that they could lay their hands on.
Machetes,
Dane guns, spears, clubs, bows and arrows were brandished by irate
but determined citizens who trooped out in thousands to demand to
be sent to the warfront to repel the invaders. Because of the tension
that pervaded the air, life was almost at a standstill. Schools
were closed as teenage high school students poured into the neophyte
Biafran Armed Forces.
After
a hurried training on weapons handling and few military routines,
the new recruits were rushed to the northern borders to await the
impending onslaught of the better equipped and more numerous invading
federal troops. Proudly adorning their green khaki uniforms embossed
with the rising sun insignia, our youths trooped to the battle front
armed with antiquated weapons that were leftovers from World War
I era. But with faith in God and an indomitable will to live free
in our fatherland, we fought heroically for the next 30 months.
As we look back, we must salute and honor our fallen heroes who
readily put their youthful lives in harm’s way to ensure that
the values that we held so dear would survive another day. It is
to their heroism and honor that we dedicate Biafra.
