The Biafra War of 1967 to 1970 and Its Socio-Political Consequences in Enugu State

This study examines the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 to 1970, commonly referred to as the Biafra War, with specific focus on its enduring socio-political consequences in Enugu State, the former capital of the Republic of Biafra in Nigeria's South East geopolitical zone. The war, which claimed between one and three million lives predominantly through famine and conflict, left deep psychological, demographic, and institutional scars that continue to shape political behaviour and inter-group relations in the state. Employing a descriptive historical design, the study draws on primary data from oral history interviews with 30 war survivors aged 65 and above, complemented by archival records and secondary literature published between 2020 and 2024. The Collective Memory Theory provides the conceptual framework, examining how shared historical trauma shapes group identity and political orientation across generations. Findings reveal that memories of the war continue to fuel Igbo separatist sympathies, distrust of the federal government, and support for secessionist movements. The study further identifies the failure of post-war reconstruction programmes and the neglect of war memorialisation as factors perpetuating historical grievances. Recommendations include truth and reconciliation initiatives, formal acknowledgment of war-related losses by the federal government, and the inclusion of the Civil War's full history in national secondary school curricula. Keywords: Biafra War, Nigerian Civil War, Enugu State, collective memory, post-conflict reconstruction.