First Battle of Onitsha The First Battle of Onitsha ( October 4 , 1967 - January 12 , 1968 ) was a large military conflict between Biafran and Nigerian forces . The entire operation had a series of small battles leading up to a final assault by Nigerian forces on January 12 . Background . In the previous months before the battle Nigerian troops were quickly gaining an advantage over the struggling Biafra . Nigerians had seen victory at the Battle of Nsukka , Midwest Invasion of 1967 , Battle of Ore , and the Fall of Enugu . On October 2 , 1967 Gen . Murtala Muhammad was stationed next to the Niger River when he was commanded by Yakubu Gowon to attack the Biafran stronghold of Onitsha . When Biafran troops learned of this Gen . Philip Effiong ordered the destruction of the Niger River Bridge . This gave Gen . Muhammad only 2 ways to enter the city . He either had to march to the city of Abagana and cross the river there and then march to Onitsha or he could attempt a crossing by boat strait towards the city of Onitsha . Gen . Gowon recommended for him to march to Abagana and march to Onitsha but Gen . Muhammad decided to cross the river at Ndoni about 2 miles south of Onitsha . Crossing the Niger . On October 4 Muhammad had a 10 boat fleet of 5 , 000 men cross the river at Ndoni . Gen . Effiong was prepared and had his men plant mines on the beach at Ndoni . While crossing Biafran troops fired at the Nigerians killing a large amount of men . Only a handful of Muhammad ' s men were killed by the explosions on the beach and he decided to march on . When Muhammad reached Onitsha the Biafrans fought the Nigerians for 8 days until the Biafrans retreated on October 12 . Counter attack . Instead of pursuing the retreating Biafrans Gen . Muhammad decided to loot and burn Onitsha ' s largest market . This let the Biafrans re - organize and plan a counter attack . On October 13 troops led by Phillip Effiong marched into the city and forced Gen . Muhammad to retreat across the Niger River . During the retreat across the river many of Muhammad ' s men were killed and all captured Nigerians were taken to prisons . Second crossing . On October 14 Gen . Muhammad decided to attempt a second crossing . The now heavily guarded city of Onitsha had guards surrounding it . During the attempted crossing Effiong ' s troops bombarded Muhammad ' s troops and ended up forcing the Nigerians to retreat . Muhammad ' s march . After the failed crossing Gen . Muhammad took Gowon ' s advice and marched to the city of Abagana . After he successfully crossed at Abagana he marched towards Onitsha . On the way Muhammad ' s men took control of 3 Biafran cities . Muhammad ' s men took 3 months to reach Onitsha . On January 12 , 1968 Muhammad reached Onitsha . Final battle . On January 12 , 1968 Muhammad ' s men finally reached Onitsha . The Nigerians were met with stiff resistance from the defending Biafrans . By mid - day much of Effiong ' s men had been either killed , wounded , or captured . The final battle only lasted 24 hours . Effiong fled with the remaining men in the 12th Division of the Biafran army . Muhammad then occupied the city and put defensive forces around the city . Aftermath . On March 31 , 1968 Muhammad was returning from Abagana with 96 vehicles heading towards Onitsha . Biafran troops laid an ambush on the road they were coming from . When they came into view the Biafrans launched a home made " Bucket Bomb " at the Nigerians . The explosion killed almost every Nigerian in the vehicles . Murtala Muhammad was one of the survivors . After the Abagana Ambush the Biafrans led by Rolf Steiner attempted to take back Onitsha . The attack was a failure and Rolf Steiner was taken out of command of his troops by Odumegwu Ojukwu . In May 1968 Benjamin Adekunle took the city of Port Harcourt and took the cities of Owerri and Aba were taken in October 1968 during Operation OAU . The Biafrans re - took Owerri in January 1969 . The Biafran capital of Umuahia was taken in December 1969 and Owerri was taken in January 1970 . On January 15 , 1970 Biafra surrendered to Nigeria .