The Biafran War, also known as the Nigerian Civil War, lasted from July 6, 1967, to January 15, 1970. It began when the southeastern region of Nigeria, predominantly inhabited by the Igbo people, declared independence as the Republic of Biafra due to ethnic tensions, economic disputes, and political instability following Nigeria's independence from Britain in 1960. The Nigerian federal government, seeking to maintain national unity, launched a military campaign to suppress the secession. The war resulted in widespread famine, particularly in Biafra, and an estimated 3-5 million deaths, mostly from starvation and disease. It ended with Biafra's surrender and reintegration into Nigeria.