Retired Warrant Officer: At the battlefront, I saw a lot of things I cannot narrate

Another veteran, retired Warrant Officer Yabal Jedidiah, who fought on the side of the Nigerian Army, spoke on his experiences.

Can you share your experiences with us?

Before the war, I had been looking for an opportunity to join the army, so when it broke out, the opportunity came as they were looking for youths to be recruited.  Before I joined the army, the surrounding of the school, which I was attending in Kaduna (Federal Training Center/College) was hit by a bomb from the Biafran soldiers plane, B26. We had to dig trenches in the school, where we hid whenever there was an attack.

But I hardly took cover. I always watched to see how shots were fired. After our examination, about six of us were asked to go and make inquiries on how to join the army. We went to 1 Division of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna, and we were recruited. We were then taken to the training depot.  I was taken to Port Harcourt, upon recruitment and I worked as a finance personnel under the engineering unit of the army.

At the battlefront, I saw a lot of things that I cannot narrate. One day I had severe headache and went to the hospital in Port Harcourt for treatment. But when I saw many corpses and people with life-threatening injuries among other things from the Nigerian Army casualties, I became well immediately.

I served under General Olusegun Obasanjo. When we heard the pronouncement that the war had ended, we started jubilating, suddenly, there was an explosion in Port Harcourt, and we thought the Biafran soldiers had returned and we started firing again, before things settled.

• A veteran of the war, who was with the 63 NA, and served with the 3 Marine Commando, retired Warrant Officer Monday Ranse said war is not something anyone should pray for.
• Chukwura Philip is a 70-year-old veteran, who hails from Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State. He said he fought in Onitsha and Awka in Anambra State.

What do you have to say to those still agitating for separation?

I urge all those agitating for division to have a second thought. We sacrificed to keep the nation one and that should not be in vain. Moreover, the nation cannot afford another war as the devastation would be incomprehensible. I call on government to also ensure that all parts of the country are involved in the Nigerian project.