The Biafra Civil WarThe federal republic of Nigeria is a nation that gained independence in the year 1960. It comprised a collection of independent native states separated from each other by distance, cultural and religious differences. In 1960, there were approximately 300 ethnic tribes in Nigeria, the most important of which were the Christian-majority Ibo or Igbo of eastern Nigeria, the Muslim Hausa tribe of northern Nigeria, and the Yoruba tribe of southwestern Nigeria. Without considering the differences between these three tribes, Nigeria was granted independence. Seven years after its independence, a war which some say was caused by Colonel Yakubu Gowon (former military head of state) for Northern economic interests and others say was caused by Colonel Ojukwu (President of Biafra) broke out with selfish intentions of govern an independent republic. The buildup of tension between the provinces long before the war was exacerbated by the failed coup attempt of 15 January 1966 by Major Chukwuma Nzoegwu of the Eastern Province when he carried out the assassination of two of t...