Biafran Armed Forces

The Biafran Armed Forces were the military of the Republic of Biafra, the secessionist state that existed from 1967 until 1970 and fought the Nigerian Civil War. They had an army, a small improvised navy and a small but effective air force. At the start of the war Biafra had about 3,000 soldiers, a number that grew to roughly 30,000. At its peak the army was organised into five divisions plus separate brigades, among them a guard brigade for General Ojukwu and a commando brigade trained and commanded by mercenaries. Odumegwu Ojukwu was commander-in-chief and Philip Effiong was chief of general staff. No nation gave official support, although arms were acquired clandestinely, and some Europeans served the Biafran cause. The article names the force as the Biafran Armed Forces and records that it was based on an army, navy and air force structure.