Q. What were the main causes of the Biafran War in Nigeria?

The Biafran War, also known as the Nigerian Civil War, was fought from 1967 to 1970. The main causes of the war were ethnic and regional tensions, economic disagreements, and political power struggles. The war was sparked by the attempted secession of the eastern region, dominated by the Igbo people, who felt marginalized and excluded from power by the federal government. The discovery of oil in the Niger Delta region further complicated matters, as the eastern region sought control over the resource. The government’s decision to switch from a federal to a unitary system of government also contributed to the tensions. The massacre of Igbo people in the north in 1966 was the final straw, leading to the declaration of independence by the eastern region as the Republic of Biafra, and the subsequent war.