EASTERN NIGERIA: FEDERAL TROOPS OCCUPY PORT HARCOURT

Record ID: 1077884

  • Title: EASTERN NIGERIA: FEDERAL TROOPS OCCUPY PORT HARCOURT
  • Date: 21st May 1968
  • Summary: 1. AV PORT HARCOURT 0.08 2. AV DITTO 0.11 3. AV SMOKE FROM BUILDINGS 0.16 4. LV SMOKE 0.21 5. TRAVEL SHOT. FIRE 0.25 6. GV FIRE 0.34 7. LV SMOKE & FLAMES 0.40 8. CU FLAMES 0.44 9. GV OIL TANK PAN TO FIRE 0.50 10. GV PAN FROM ONE FIRE TO ANOTHER 0.54 11. LV TROOPS UNCOVER HELICOPTER 0.58 12. CU SIGN BRISTOL HELICOPTERS 1.01 13. SV TROOPS IN COCKPIT 1.04 14. CU TAIL ROTAR 1.07 15. GV REFUGEES 1.11 16. CU CHILDREN 1.14 17. CU WOMAN 1.17 18. CU MAN 1.19 19. GV REFUGEES IN SHADE 1.20 20. SV REFUGEES TOWARDS WITH HANDS ABOVE HEAD 1.25 21. SV PAN TROOPS & REFUGEES 1.36 Initials JP/VS/CR/SGM Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 4th June 1968 13:00
  • Keywords:
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  • Location: PORT HARCOURT, EASTERN NIGERIA
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Reuters ID: LVAP9L1O17B710DZGI5IIYTBQUE
  • Story Text:FEDERAL NIGERIAN TROOPS ARE CONSOLIDATING THEIR POSITION IN PORT HARCOURT, THE KEY CITY OF BREAKAWAY BIAFRA, WHICH THEY TOOK AFTER HEAVY FIGHTING. THE INDUSTRIAL AND OIL CENTRE OF EASTERN NIGERIA WAS FINALLY ENTERED BY UNITS OF THE THIRD ARMY COMMANDO DIVISION LAST SUNDAY.

    THE ADVANCING TROOPS MET NO HEAVY RESISTANCE FROM THE BIAFRAN DEFENDERS AS THEY MOVED INTO PORT HARCOURT. THE FEDERAL COMMANDER COLONEL BENJAMIN ADEKUNLE, ESTABLISHED HIS HEADQUARTERS IN THE CITY SHORTLY AFTER THE ADVANCE WAS COMPLETED. THE DAWN ADVANCE WAS ILLUMINATED BY A BLAZING OIL PIPE LINE LEADING FROM THE BIG SHELL REFINERY OUTSIDE PORT HARCOURT INTO THE CITY. THERE WERE STILL MANY IBO CIVILIANS LEFT IN PORT HARCOURT WHEN THE FEDERAL TROOPS ENTERED. THESE WERE ROUNDED UP AND PLACED IN CAMPS. CORRESPONDENTS SAY THAT MANY THOUSANDS OF IBOS, NOT WISHING TO STAY UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL, FLED THE CITY BEFORE THE ADVANCING ARMY OCCUPIED IT. THE REFUGEES, MAINLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WERE MAKING FOR THE TOWN OF ABA, 70 MILES FROM PORT HARCOURT. SOME REFUGEES HAD WALKED 40 MILES SINCE THE WEEKEND, WHEN FIGHTING REACHED A PEAK.
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