Biafran Town Attacked

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31500, 14 October 1967, Page 13

Biafran Town Attacked

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LAGOS, Oct. 13. Almost two battalions of 1 Federal Nigerian troops after crossing the Niger River have gained a foothold in the Biafran market town of Onitsha, reliable sources said last night. The sources said some 1000 troops made the landing on Monday after crossing the river in wooden ferries under cover of darkness. Witnesses said Biafran defenders turned searchlights on the invaders and tried to keep them away with automatic small arms fire. Several Federal boats were said to have capsized. Federal officers said that their troops had control over two-thirds of Onitsha, a city with a population of 163,000

the second largest under Biafran rule. The landing put Federal troops at four fronts on Biafran soil. The operation was the most ambitious by Federal forces since they recaptured Boony Island along the Biafran coast—at the end of July.

The Biafrans had blown out a section on the Onitsha side of the Niger River bridge, requiring enemy troops to make their assault by amphibious landing. Reports said Soviet-huilt MiGl7 jet fighters and Czechbuilt Delfins jets provided air support for the attack on Onitsha.

The troops fired mortar shells into the city and petrol storage tanks near the bridge exit burst into flames.