- Abagana Ambush
- Jonathan phoned Buhari to congratulate him on winning the presidential election in 2015.
According to Peter Berger, the past is malleable and flexible, changing as our recollection interprets and re-explains what has happened.
People’s lives place history in a special place. In addition to preserving memories, it occasionally prompts reflection on prior incidents. As we move forward, we must carefully analyze our past.
In an effort to spread awareness for educational purposes snd bring historical events to our readers’ doorsteps, WITHIN NIGERIA has highlighted three notable events that occurred on March 31 in the history of the giant of Africa, Nigeria.
Abagana Ambush
On this day, 31st of March in 1968, an ambush by Biafran guerrilla troops led by Major Major Jonathan Uchendu wiped out the Nigerian 2 Division, leaving only a very small number out of 6000 Nigerian troops including the 2nd Division’s commander, General Murtala Muhammed as survivors.
On 31 March 1968, a convoy consisting of 106 vehicles belonging to the Nigerian 2nd Division transporting 6,000 soldiers, as well as armour from Onitsha to Enugu was ambushed and decimated in the town of Abagana by a small unit of Biafran soldiers led by Major Jonathan Uchendu.
Homemade Ogbunigwe rocket missiles were launched by the Biafrans at a tanker truck carrying gasoline which caused an enormous explosion destroying many of the convoy’s armoured vehicles and killing a large number of Nigerian troops. 350 tons of Nigerian Army equipment were destroyed or captured by the Biafran troops.
After the rocket attack the Biafran soldiers opened fire on the convoy with small arms fire killing many more Nigerian soldiers. It was during this ambush that the Nigerian army suffered the heaviest single loss in the civil war.
The successful ambush at Abagana gave both Biafran soldiers and civilians hope in the war as well as temporarily halting the Nigerian advance into Biafran territory. General Murtala Muhammed was relieved of his command and never commanded a division again.
In his own words, Uchendu said the sight of the convoy almost paralyzed his troops. His boys were so anxious to start firing, more out of panic than anything else. He asked them to remain calm until he gave the command. He allowed much of the Nigerian 2 Division convoy to pass through. His boys were shocked why he would allow them go through into the Biafran held zone.
They were nervous and suspicious, yet they trusted his military gallantry and so awaited to know his strategy. He said they concluded that the war was over, but as brave soldiers, they must fight to the last!
As he was guiding the soldier with the rocket launcher on what to do to the invading convoy and when best to strike, the soldier accidentally pressed the trigger, letting go of the rocket. Luckily, he hit a fuel tanker. The tanker exploded and threw its contents onto a nearby armour carrier setting everything ablaze, causing multiple explosions.
In panic, soldiers who already crossed over into the Biafran line ran in different directions in total confusion. The Biafran soldiers attacked. They radioed the regular troops and they joined in the attack. When Uchendu learned that Muritala Muhammed was with the convoy and somewhere in Nawfia, he set off hurriedly to capture him but was late as Muritala was sighted taking off with a helicopter.
Jonathan phoned Buhari to congratulate him on winning the presidential election in 2015.
On this date, March 31, 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan called Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for president, to congratulate him on winning the election.
According to APC leaders who overheard the discussion, Jonathan gave Buhari an assurance of full cooperation and a peaceful transition when he called him at precisely 5:15 pm from Abuja.
The National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, was reportedly summoned by the President to congratulate him on his party’s electoral triumph