Retired military officer, General Alabi Isama, has recounted how he survived and repelled an attack by a Biafran assault team during the early stages of the Nigerian Civil War.
Speaking in an archival video interview shared by BBC News Africa, the veteran commander detailed the dramatic encounter, which took place on August 8, 1967, as the conflict intensified across different parts of the country.
According to General Isama, he had received information suggesting that hostile forces were searching for him and took precautionary measures by arming himself with a defensive grenade and a submachine gun before the attackers arrived.
The retired officer recalled that the armed squad reached his residence at about 10 a.m. and immediately opened fire on the building, shattering the glass entrance in an attempt to gain access.
“They came looking for me at 10 a.m.,” Isama said. “They opened fire, it was a glass door and they shattered the glass. Then I opened my grenade and threw it through the shattered glass and one of them said ‘Chineke’. Luckily because they bunched together it killed them.”
He explained that the attackers had gathered closely together outside the entrance when he launched the grenade through the damaged doorway, resulting in an explosion that neutralised the squad before they could breach his position.
General Isama noted that one of the soldiers reportedly shouted in shock after spotting the live explosive device moments before the blast.
The retired military officer said the encounter remains one of the most intense moments of his wartime experience, highlighting the dangers faced by commanders and soldiers during the conflict.
The account offers a rare first-hand perspective on the unpredictable close-quarters combat that characterised parts of the Nigerian Civil War and underscores the importance of preparedness and tactical decision-making in life-threatening situations.
General Isama’s story continues to stand as a notable historical account of survival, combat readiness, and defensive strategy during one of Nigeria’s most significant periods of conflict.
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