General Conrad Dibia Nwawo was a distinguished soldier, revered for his numerous accomplishments, particularly as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in Katanga, Congo, under General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi. His leadership of the fierce Biafran forces—namely the 11th Division, 13th Division, and the Biafra Commando Forces—cemented his legacy as a legendary figure, especially for those who witnessed the Nigerian Civil War. Nwawo, a warrior by bloodline, lived a long and remarkable life, passing away in February 2016 at his home in Onicha-Olona, Delta State. He was laid to rest in his family home in Akwubili, Ogbeobi, Onicha-Olona.
Nwawo’s role in shaping modern Nigerian history was profound. Born in 1922, he was educated at Aggrey Memorial School in Arochukwu under Dr. Alvan Ikoku and later attended Ilesha Grammar School. Between 1944 and 1946, he trained at the School of Agriculture, Moore Plantation, before taking on the role of Assistant Agriculture Officer in Ibadan and Cameroon. By 1948, Nwawo had transitioned to the colonial Civil Service as a clerk in the Accountant-General’s office in Kaduna, while pursuing a degree in Economics from the University of London. In 1950, after passing part II of the Inter B.Sc. in Economics, he left the Civil Service and joined the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF), where he was posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Nigerian Regiment.
After officer training at the West African Command Training School in Teshie, Ghana, and Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School in England, Nwawo was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1953. He was later seconded to the British Army of the Rhine in Germany, a strategic unit under NATO in case of conflict with the Soviet Union. Returning to Nigeria, Nwawo took various military roles, including platoon commander and instructor in military logistics, tactics, and law at the Nigerian Military School, Zaria. In 1963, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the prestigious Military Cross (MC) for bravery during the United Nations peace mission in Congo.
Following his military service in Congo, Nwawo attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Kansas and returned to Nigeria to serve as Chief Instructor at the Nigerian Military Training College, Zaria. His students included notable future Nigerian leaders like Buhari and Babangida.
In 1965, Nwawo was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed as Military Attaché to the Nigerian High Commission in London. During the January 15, 1966 coup led by Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Nwawo was called from London to mediate in Kaduna, where Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu had declared control of the North. Nwawo, having been Nzeogwu’s instructor, convinced him to stand down and surrender to General Ironsi.
Appointed Military Commander of the Midwest Area Command, Nwawo played a crucial role during the turbulent period leading up to the Nigerian Civil War. As violence escalated, many Igbo officers sought refuge in the Midwest under Nwawo’s leadership. The war officially began on July 6, 1967, and the Biafran forces, led by Brigadier Victor Banjo, overran the Midwest by August. Although the full details of Nwawo’s involvement remain untold, his unpublished memoirs may provide deeper insights into the campaign.
After the fall of the Midwest, Nwawo’s position became precarious. He continued to fight on the Biafran side, showing exceptional skill in military strategy, notably at Onitsha and Umuahia. Despite the eventual fall of the Biafran capital, Nwawo remained steadfast in his commitment to duty, earning respect as a military leader and peacemaker.
Throughout his life, Nwawo was a key figure in Nigeria’s military and political history, never standing on the sidelines. His contributions continue to resonate, marking him as one of the most significant military figures of his time.
