<P> Northern Nigeria opposed the claim of southern secession . The Nigerian government called for police action in the area . The armed forces of Nigeria were sent in to occupy and take back the Republic of Biafra . Nigerian forces seized Biafra in a series of phases . The phases were, the Capture of Nsukka, the Capture of Ogoja, Capture of Abakaliki, and the Capture of Enugu . All of the perpetrated phases and campaigns were successful due to the advantaged army of Nigeria . By 1970, Biafraian general, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu, fled to the neighboring nation of Côte d'Ivoire . After the flee, Biafra, facing no other option, surrendered due to lack of resources and leadership . Biafra quickly united with the northern Nigeria on 15 January 1970 . The conflict is estimated to have killed roughly 1 million people . </P> <P> The civil war began on 23 March 1991 as a result of an attempted overthrow against the administration of president, Joseph Saidu Momoh . The rebels went under the guise of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) led by Foday Sankoh a previous army corporal . The Sierra Leoneian government called for action and soon the Sierra Leone Army (SLA) was sent in to control the situation and take back RUF occupied territory . </P> <P> By 1992 president Joseph Momoh was ousted by a successful military coup led by Captain Valentine Strasser . Capitan Strasser, soon established multi-party democratic elections in the region . </P> <P> On 18 January 2002, the civil war was officially ended by former president Kabbah . During the 11 year conflict, roughly 50,000 Sierra Leoneians were killed with 2,000,000 displaced . </P>

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