The Story of “OGBUNIGWE”

– Formidable Weapon Technology in Biafra

Introduction

On May 06, 1967, when the Nigeria- Biafra War broke out, it was observed by the Scientists / Engineers who found themselves in Biafra that the available Military Weapon Technologies in Biafra were nothing to write home about. Biafra itself, was blockaded from outside World by Land, Air and Sea by the superior Military Power of the Federal Military Government. Biafra could therefore not import any Weapons, if even she had the Foreign Currency, which she didn’t have to so do. On count the available Military hardware available to Biafra in May, 1967, consists of the following  namely, (1) Nine pieces of United Nations Riot containment Bombs, (2) few Military Weapons just enough to equip an Army  Platoon, (3) a  B26 Bomber of 1939-1945 Second World War Vintage, (4) Nine pieces of 90 mm Bombs originally kept by Nigeria for use by an Artillery Ground to Air anti-aircraft meant as demonstration or training but later from June 1967 to serve as a major Air defense Arsenal of Biafra, (5) few Rifles left over from the West African Frontier (second World War) with few rounds of Bullets left in Enugu Army Barracks and there was no Military Industrial Complex  in the former Eastern Nigeria to draw from in order to wage a modern Technology War.    .

 In spite of the above Realities the Biafra Military Leadership, as former Members of the Nigeria Army, were confident that in the Event of a War with Nigeria they were equal to the Task and they reassured the Biafran Population by a large dose of propaganda of Biafra invisibility. However, the Head of Biafra Army Engineers, himself an Engineer confided on the Scientists and Engineers in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) that all that was going on was no more than political propaganda to quip up Political support as there was no Military Industrial Complex to draw from to prosecute the War. He then pleaded for whatever support could come from the Scientists, Engineers and Technologists in Biafra to prosecute the War. This led to the establishment of Science and Technology (S&T) Group in Biafra, later renamed Research and Production (RAP) in Biafra

The Sequence of Events in the Nigeria -Biafra War.

When the Civil War eventually broke out Biafra deployed its only B26 Bomber as a show of Air superiority over Nigeria Space with no Bomber Aircraft. The Biafra B26 Bomber dominated Nigeria Air Space including Lagos. In addition, Biafra had at Enugu Airport, a Ground to Air Artinery with 9 pieces of 90mm bombs to defend the B26 Bomber and Enugu Airport. an Artillary  and Arsenal for flying to Lagos making intimidating psychological sorties as a show of force to Lagos . During the operation of the B26 Bomber Aircraft, the Trio of William Achukwu, (Agricultural Mechanization Technologist),  Gordian Ezekwe (a Mechanical Engineer of Faculty of Engineering, UNN)) and Felix Oragwu (a Physicist of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, UNN) respectively, were assigned by Research and Production ( RAP) of Biafra with the responsibility of loading the B26 Bomber with RAP bombs, briefing / guiding the Pilot on the deployment of Biafra Bomb Devices and to get the Pilot to commit to no bombing of Civilian Populations but strictly on Military Targets. The Trio are to do this for every flight of the B26 Bomber.

Emergence of USSR MIG 15 Jet Fighter on Enugu Airport and Biafra Air Space

One early Morning in September 1967, the Trio of Achukwu/ Ezekwe/ Oragwu, went as usual to load the B26 at Enugu Airport with the non- lethal RAP Devices, when from nowhere a fast moving / low flying almost at Roof Top Levels, a USSR MIG 15 Jet Bomber. We ran for cover at the safest Section of the RunWay of Enugu Airport, praying / watching the MIG Fighter in Action. It was the most scaring / deadly experience of our lives. Gordian Ezekwe led us in Prayers starting with the Lords Prayer and Hail Mary as all the three of us are Roman Catholics. However, the MIG 15 Jet Fighter mercifully hovered around the loaded B26 Bomber, deflated only all its tires, then hovered around again and left the Airport. We then prayed again and thanked Almighty God for His Mercies and worked back on foot from the Airport to our Laboratories with the Shock unabated for at least three Days when our RAP Colleagues were breaved on our Experience. All the RAP Members around prayed again and thanked God again from delivering us from certain Death.   

The Development and Production of Air Dust Mine Technologies to combat low flying / fast -moving / Jet propelled Military Bombers.

With the B26 Bomber totally out of Action, RAP had to develop a Technology for fighting low flying / fast moving Jet Fighters propelled by Jet propulsion Action.   The 90mm Artillery Ground to Air Launcher was no longer relevant nor useful as Air Defense Weapon.  RAP then developed, based on our knowledge of Physics and Mechanical Engineering a mechanism for throwing up Dust particles in the path of fast flying / low flighting Jet-propelled Aircraft. That led us to design / produce a Dust / particles Bucket like throwing Technology.   WE named it “Dust Mines Technology. This Technology was designed to throw and spread Dust Particles and or light particles in the way of low/ fast flying Jet fighters in the hope that the Jet Fighter can suck in the Dust particles to stop its propulsion action, asphitiate the Jet Fighter and cause it crashing down. The successful production of these Air Dust Mines assured some defense for Biafra Troops at their locations against Jet Fighters. The Biafra Military ordered the Biafran Troops to have these Dust Mines both at their Locations and when they are in motion.

The Amansi- Ugwu Oba near Awka on Enugu – Onitsha Road Incident.

In October 1967, the Federal Troops having captured and secured Enugu the Capital of Biafra, decided to capture Onitsha the Commercial Nerve of Biafra though Enugu – Onitsha Highway. Earlier the Federal Troops under Brigadier General Murtalla Mohammed had failed disastrously to capture Onitsha through Asaba -Onitsha Bridge. The well -armed /heavily equipped Federal Troops on their way from Enugu to Onitsha, encountered a Battalion of poorly equipped and virtually exhausted /hungry Biafra Troops at Ugwu-Oba Bridge, Amansi Awka, few kilometers into Awka, the present Capital of ANSG. The Biafra Troops began to run away for their dear lives clutching their Air Defense Dust Mines along with them. Their resourceful Commander ordered them to place their Dust Mines horizontally instead of vertically as designed and detonate it on the ravaging / destructive Federal Troops. The Command was promptly executed by the running away Biafran Troops. The Federal Troops did not know what hit them and the massive loss of Federal Troops, and destruction / burning of Arms / Ammunitions and the defeat of Nigeria’s formidable  Army by a Rag Tag of Biafran Troops. People from Amansi Awka were called out to help to bury the Dead. One old man from Amansi Awka on noticing the large number of dead Soldiers exclaimed in Igbo language , namely “OGBUEFA NA IGWE” translated in English Language is “this Bomb kills them massively or in Masses” .That is where the “Air Dust Mine” got its name “Ogbunigwe” and RAP Scientists and Engineers in Biafra were thereafter Called “Ogbunigwe “ People .   

Development after Amansi Ugwu-Oba Awka Incident.

Following Amansi Incident, the Dust Mine was modified, and granite stones / metals replaced Dust/ light particles to serve as a Face Me I face you horizontal Technology Weapon in the same way combatting their opponents except the new Weapon on detonation produces an equivalent of an Army Bullets.
The Second Innovation is what has come to be called a Flying Ogbunigwe which is equivalent to launching a 90mm Bomb from an Artillery except that a Flying Ogbunigwe Technology can spray its Bullets over a wider place.

Conclusion

ALL the above is what is called Technology Innovation in which an existing Technology is modified, upgraded and or improved to become new Technology. The Technology Innovation Strategy is what Japan which did not participate in the 18^th Century AD and 19^th Century AD to leapfrog into global competition in Technologies and Industrial Goods production / manufacture with Industrial Europe and North America. China, South Korea and now India and Asian Tigers have followed the strategy to give Europe, North America and Japan a run for their money in global Technology and Industrial Goods Trade. R&D for 200 years is what it took Europe / North America to produce / manufacture globally competitive Technologies / Industrial Goods by the end of 19^th Century AD.  All the so -called R&D activities going on in Nigeria are an effort in trying to invent the Wheel. Technology Innovation of existing Technologies to produce new Technologies and or new Industrial Goods is the way to go if Nigeria wants to leapfrog into a globally competitive Industrial Economy capable of production and manufacture Technologies of production and services and industrial goods both for domestic use and for export to the global market for foreign Revenue. This the Lesson of Biafra Experience. R&D is defined as the development of Scientific knowledge, Inventions and or Discoveries into Technologies / Industrial Goods in an Economy and must  be seen as such in Nigeria, not as the acquisition of  Scientific knowledge, inventions  and or discoveries now going on in Nigeria which are the Tasks of the Universities or related Academies. For more information on Technology / Industrial Goods production / manufacture, please read Chapters I and IV and Epilogue 1 of my Book titled “Scientific and Technological Innovations in Biafra: The Ogbunigwe Fame”, 1967-1970, Second Edition, 2017 or my most recent Book, titled “Technology and Wealth of Nations”. respectively.

Felix N.C. Oragwu, FSAN, MInstP (IOP) London

Former Senior Academic in Physics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN), from 1960s,
Head of Research and Development (R&D)  Planning Division / Coordinator of  Technological Services of the Industrial War Machine that operated in the defunct State of Biafra, 1967-1970.
Retired Senior Director in Charge of the Department of Science and Technology (S&T) Policy, Planning and Development of the Federal Government Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) 1979-1987
Former Technology Development Consultant to UNECA, UNDP and UNIDO