Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigerian troops should not have fought Biafran soldiers during the Nigerian Civil War, describing civil conflicts as painful because citizens are forced to fight one another.
Obasanjo made the statement in Abeokuta on Monday, May 11, 2026, while reflecting on his experience during the 1967 to 1970 civil war and speaking on national unity and reconciliation.
The former president, who served as a commander during the war, said civil wars differ from external battles because the objective should be peace and unity rather than destruction.
According to him, Nigerian soldiers and Biafran troops were all citizens of the same country, making the conflict emotionally difficult for many involved.
He said “We shouldn’t have fought ourselves. Civil war is different from fighting external enemies because at the end of the day, you are fighting your brothers”.
He added that the lessons from the war should encourage Nigerians to promote peace, dialogue and unity in order to prevent another national conflict.