The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War or the Nigerian–Biafran War, was a conflict built upon ethnic tensions fought between Nigeria’s federal government and Biafra, a secessionist state. Nigeria was largely controlled by three ethnic groups, the Yoruba, the Igbo and the Hausa-Fulani and, due to endemic conflicts and mounting tensions, the federal government was on the brink of collapse. After rising tensions and instabilities, the Republic of Biafra unilaterally declared its independence from Nigeria in May 1967, which Nigeria’s federal government interpreted as an act of rebellion. After 30 months of bitter fighting, the war ended in Biafra’s surrender.

After the war, military leader and head of state Yakuba Gowon managed to reconcile the two sides, and former Biafran states became part of Nigeria again. Earnings from oil led to government programmes that helped keep the peace. By the mid-1970s, Gowon was known as an international leader and was pivotal in the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Notwithstanding, Gowon was in 1975 removed from office while in Uganda for an Organization of African Unity summit meeting, and he fled to Great Britain.

Nigeria’s new head of state, Murtala Ramat Mohammed, was only briefly in office but initiated many changes, initiating the process for a return to civilian control. He was assassinated in 1976 during an unsuccessful coup attempt. By 1980, Nigeria had shifted to civilian rule, closing the era of military control.