Abagana Ambush. The destrction by Biafran forces of a 106-vehicle convoy of the 2nd Divsion of the Nig Army on March 31st 1968.Nig force comprised of amoured cars, trops carriers & a fuel tanker was inching its way towards Enugu whn it was waylaid by Biafran trops.@oluchristty 1/
A direct hit on de tanker by a mortar launched soon after de Biafran platoon opened fire succeeded in creating a 400-metre conflagration that incinerated men and materials within a short period of time. Most of those who survived the inferno were cut down in a hail of gunfire.2/
600 federal troops died in the attack. The ambush was arguably the most spectacular mission undertaken by the Biafran Army during the war; albeit that it failed to stop the contraction of Biafran-held territory. 3/
The incident was another disastrous engagement on the part of Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed, whose troops had sustained heavy loss of life during two initial attempts to capture Onitsha by crossing the River Niger at Asaba. 4/
Although eventually successful in that endeavour, Muhammed was relieved of his command and was never to command a division again during the war.
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