U.K. Carrier May Be Going To Nigeria
(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, June 1. The 27,000-ton commando aircraft carrier Albion, withdrawn from an exercise in British waters, was sailing on a secret operation, the Defence Ministry said today.
The vessel had 2000 sailors, soldiers and marines aboard for the exercise off western Scotland.
A front page report in the “Daily Express" newspaper today said the Albion’s new destination was believed to be Nigeria, where the breakaway of the Eastern Region to form an independent republic could lead to civil war. But, the report added, a possible connexion between the movement of the ship and the Middle East crisis could not be ruled out The Defence Ministry spokesman said today: “She is sailing somewhere. I cannot say where. Take your pick.” Nigeria's breakaway Eastern Region was virtually isolated from the outside world tonight as the federal military Head of State, LieutenantColonel Yakubu Gowon, clamped down controls designed to bring it swiftly to its knees. Telecommunications and air links were cut from Lagos and there were reports that the main road into the Eastern Region had been blocked at the River Niger. Dividing By 12 Tn the federal capital, 32-year-old Colonel Gowon went ahead with the division of the federation into 12 new states
by installing nine military governors. The new leaders, all members of the ruling supreme military council, were told by Colonel Gowon to move quickly to their posts as
heads of autonomous states within the federation “so as to enable the military government to restore full civilian rule in the near future,” an official announcement said. Federal authorities in Lagos set up fresh checkposts in the city and nearby Ikeja, which contains the airport, while army leaders in Benin city, a capital of the Mid West state on the strategic road to the East, also stepped up airport security. Military movement was reported on the road from Lagos to Ibadan, the Western capital.
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Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31385, 2 June 1967, Page 9
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321U.K. Carrier May Be Going To Nigeria Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31385, 2 June 1967, Page 9
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