| Republic of Benin | ||||
| Puppet state of Biafra | ||||
|
||||
|
Flag |
||||
| Motto Unity and Strength |
||||
| Green: Republic of Benin, a one-day existent puppet state of Biafra, which is depicted in light green. | ||||
| Capital | Benin City | |||
| Language(s) | English (official), Edo, Igbo, Ijaw, Urhobo | |||
| Government | Republic | |||
| Governor | Albert Nwazu Okonkwo | |||
| Historical era | Nigerian Civil War | |||
| - Established | September 19, 1967 | |||
| - Disestablished | September 20, 1967 | |||
| Population | ||||
| - 1967 est. | 3,000,000 | |||
| Currency | Biafran pound, Nigerian pound | |||
The short-lived Republic of Benin, in Nigeria's coastal Bight of Benin, was named after its capital Benin City. It was known as Mid-Western state in Nigeria until August 1967 when it was occupied by Biafra as its forces advanced towards Lagos. Albert Nwazu Okonkwo, a Mid-Western Igbo medical officer, was installed by Ojukwu as Biafran Military Administrator of the territory (17 August 1967 - 19 September 1967). As Nigerian forces were to retake the Mid-West, the Republic of Benin was unilaterally declared at 07:00 on 19 September 1967. Okonkwo also ruled it as "Governor".
The republic lasted a little more than a day. On 20 September 1967, it was terminated as Nigerian forces recaptured the province. It was not recognised, not even by its "parent" country, Biafra, mainly because of the brevity of its existence. Most of the government officials, as well some Igbo civilians, followed Biafran troops across the Niger River.
|
|||||||||||||||||