Yakubu Gowon: Shocking claim reveals alleged controversial deal as Ojukwu “mortgaged” Biafra mineral wealth in explosive Civil War revelation

Former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has alleged that the first leader of Biafra, Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu, mortgaged the region’s mineral wealth to the Rothschild banking family for about $10 million during the Nigerian Civil War.

Yakubu Gowon made the claim in his 859-page autobiography, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, launched on Tuesday in Abuja and titled “No Going Back.”

He stated that the arrangement was linked to securing French-backed support for the secessionist movement.

According to him, France provided significant assistance to the Biafran side through some of its former African territories, with expectations of economic and strategic gains if the breakaway attempt had succeeded.

Yakubu Gowon further explained that details of the alleged deal only came to light after Nigerian authorities reportedly intercepted intelligence in New York concerning the purchase of a B-26 aircraft intended for delivery to Biafra through a South American route.

He said the interception exposed what he described as financial and political arrangements made in anticipation of a successful secession.

Yakubu Gowon added that Ojukwu had, in his words, “pawned” Biafra’s mineral resources to the Rothschild group in exchange for an estimated $10 million, describing the revelation as part of intelligence gathered during the war period.