Akpan Utuk

Akpan Utuk was a strategic and successful colonel in the Biafran Army.[1][2][3] Utuk is known for his determination and for his military record in which he had never lost a battle that he was commanding.[4]

Akpan Utuk
Disappeared1970
Lagos
NationalityIbibio
Other namesE. A. Eutuk
Occupationcolonel
Known forhis determination and for his military record in which he never lost a battle which he was commanding

Biafran War involvement

In 1967, with the start of the Nigerian Civil War Utuk, a native of Ibibio, joined the Biafran Army and quickly rose in ranks. Utuk is said to have fought at most of the large-scale battles during the war. When Utuk was made colonel he was put into command of the Biafran 16th Division to defend the city of Owerri from the oncoming Nigerian Army. When General Benjamin Adekunle decided to invade Aba instead of Owerri, he was pleased and decided to stay back and let Major Timothy Onwuatuegwu[5] handle the Nigerians. After separate battle at Aba and Umuahia Utuk did not expect the Nigerian Army to arrive. On September 17, 1968 General Benjamin Adekunle attacked Owerri. Utuk and his men overpowered Adekunle's troops and forced them to flee to Oguta, but when Utuk arrived in Oguta he was met with heavy firepower from Adekunle's troops.

Utuk fled to Umuahia leaving Owerri open to occupation. Immediately after the occupation of Owerri Biafran President Odumegwu Ojukwu had made himself a military general and ordered Utuk and Major Onwuatuegwu to invade and retake Owerri. The outrage over Major Onwuatuegwu's combat death was so great that he commanded that sector ordered the summary execution of the soldier who had deliberately killed Onwuatuegwu instead of taking him as a prisoner of war.[6] After seven months of heavy fighting Utuk is able to recapture Owerri. After Owerri was retaken Ojukwu sent Utuk and Onwuatuegwu to Umuahia for defense. On March 22, 1969 Nigerian General Mohammed Shuwa invaded modern-day Abia State with 8,500 men. A large force of MiG-17's bombed the towns of Uzuakoli and Arochukwu, but did not damage any Biafran defenses. On April 22 Shuwa was able to break through Onwuatuegwu's line of defense and was able to take Umuahia. Utuk decided to invade the city and after four hours of Nigerian occupation, Utuk was able to retake the city.

Disappearance

Nine months later, when Biafra surrendered to Nigeria, Utuk was last seen at a party in Lagos in early 1970.[7]

He has not been seen since and is thought to be dead.[8]

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See also

Sources
  • Ani, Mz. Kevin (March 18, 2001). "Obasanjo: A Drooling Buffoon & His Warlike Idioms (II)". Journal of Igbo Affairs (Occasional Discussion). Archived from the original on January 15, 2006.
  • Philip-effiong.com

References
  1. "SHAME TO THOSE WHO SAY THAT THE URHOBOS, ITSEKIRIS AND THE ENTIRE SOUTH-SOUTH ARE NOT BIAFRANS". Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  2. "Remembering Okokon Ndem". Vanguard News. 2017-08-19. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  3. "Eastern Region in One Nigeria :: Bestnaira.com". news.bestnaira.com. Retrieved 2019-09-12.
  4. "Remembering Okokon Ndem". 19 August 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  5. Nnaji, Obinwa. "Ojukwu:How would comrades-in-arms welcome him?". Archived from the original on 2013-12-03.
  6. Falola, Toyin; Ezekwem, Ogechukwu (2016). Writing the Nigeria-Biafra War. Boydell & Brewer. ISBN 9781847011442.
  7. "Biafra: The Memories Of Our Heroes Cannot Be Erased". igbofocus.com. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  8. "Biafra: The Memories Of Our Heroes Cannot Be Erased". igbofocus.com. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
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