ARMOURED CAR ALONG ROAD; FEDERAL TROOPS IN NSUKKA; GAKEM VILLAGERS DANCING WHILE FEDERAL TROOPS STAND GUARD; CAPTURED ARMS ON SHOW AT MAKURDI IN NORTHERN ???




Initials RGH/VS/MGT/BB



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Background: FEDERAL NIGERIAN TROOPS HAVE BEEN CONSOLIDATING THEIR POSITIONS IN TOWNS CAPTURED FROM THE BREAKAWAY STATE OF BIAFRA (EASTERN NIGERIA) IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. MORE TROOPS AND WEAPONS ARE MOVING IN TO THE NORTHERN TOWN OF OGOJA AND NSUKKA.

FEDERAL TROOPS ADVANCED THROUGH THE JUNGLE AND CAPTURED OGOJA TOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT ON JULY 19. THE TROOPS SEARCHED BUILDINGS AND PRISONERS WERE INTERROGATED BY NIGERIAN OFFICERS.

FIVE DAYS EARLIER, THE FEDERAL TROOPS CAPTURED THE UNIVERSITY CITY OF NSUKKA, 41 MILES (64 KM) NORTH OF THE BIAFRAN CAPITAL OF ENUGU. THERE WAS BITTER FIGHTING AT NSUKKA, A KEY POSITION FOR FEDERAL TROOPS PUSHING TOWARDS ENUGU, AND ITS SEIZURE WAS REGARDED AS A MAJOR PSYCHOLOGICAL VICTORY FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IBO TRIBESMEN FLEEING FROM THE CAPTURED CITY WERE URGED BY BIAFRAN RADIO TO POISON ANY FOOD WHICH MIGHT FALL INTO THE HANDS OF FEDERAL TROOPS.

BUT NOW NSUKKA IS WELL AND TRULY IN FEDERAL HANDS, BACKED UP BY ARMOURED UNITES.

AT MAKURDI, THE FEDERAL ARMY IS BUILDING UP A BIG ARMOURY OF CAPTURED WEAPONS INCLUDING HOME MADE PISTOLS, AT ITS HEADQUARTERS.