The Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) broke out following the secession of the Eastern Region as the Republic of Biafra. Federal forces under General Yakubu Gowon fought to restore national unity. Among the units formed to prosecute the war was the 3rd Marine Commando Division, often called 3MCDO, a formation tasked with operations in the southern coastal and riverine regions of Nigeria. This article examines the unit’s verified history, leadership, key operations and enduring legacy.
EXPLORE: Nigerian Civil War
Formation and Purpose
At the outbreak of the war in July 1967, the Nigerian Army reorganised to meet multiple fronts of combat. The Lagos Garrison Organisation was expanded and redesignated as the 3rd Infantry Division. This division became responsible for securing Federal advances along the seaboard and in riverine terrain where the Biafran forces held significant positions. The unit’s operational context required mobility on land and water, and it soon gained the informal title Third Marine Commando, reflecting its amphibious role.
The unit is widely recognised as the first large‑scale amphibious combat formation in Nigerian military history and conducted extensive joint operations with the Nigerian Navy to enforce the blockade of Biafran ports and seize key coastal towns and waterways.
Leadership and Command
Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle
Colonel Benjamin Adesanya Maja Adekunle, later promoted to Brigadier, assumed command of the 3rd Marine Commando in July 1967. Adekunle, known by the nickname “Black Scorpion”, had formal military training and previous operational experience. Under his leadership, the division conducted several major operations aimed at disrupting Biafra’s access to seaports and expanding Federal control in the south.
Adekunle directed numerous amphibious and land operations, including important engagements at Bonny Island, Calabar and Port Harcourt that disrupted secessionist supply lines and coastal defences. His command brought the unit national and international recognition, though later military assessments noted challenges in sustaining operations deep into the inland theatre.
Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo
In May 1969, Adekunle was succeeded by Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo as commander of the 3rd Marine Commando. Obasanjo reorganised the division’s structure and led it through the final phases of the war. Under his command, the unit took part in Operation Tail‑Wind, a concerted Federal offensive that helped bring the war to an end in January 1970. Obasanjo later received the formal surrender of Biafran forces from General Philip Effiong.
Key Operations
Bonny and the Early Campaigns
One of the first key engagements for the 3rd Marine Commando was the capture of Bonny Island in July 1967. This amphibious operation was designed to secure a strategic oil hub and deny Biafran forces access to an important coastal position. Federal troops, supported by the Navy, executed a coordinated assault to take control of Bonny, marking a significant early Federal success in the war.
Operation Tiger Claw
Later in October 1967, Federal forces launched Operation Tiger Claw to capture Calabar, another major port city held by Biafran forces. This operation involved coordinated assaults from land and sea under Adekunle’s oversight. Calabar’s fall further tightened the Federal blockade and reduced Biafra’s ability to import arms and supplies by sea.
The Capture of Port Harcourt
The capture of Port Harcourt in May 1968 was one of the most strategically important victories for the 3rd Marine Commando. With Port Harcourt under Federal control, Biafra was effectively cut off from direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. This significantly weakened the secessionist state’s ability to sustain troop supplies and export oil.
Operation OAU and Inland Campaigns
In late 1968, the 3rd Marine Commando participated in inland offensives that aimed to capture Aba, Owerri and Umuahia. This series of battles, commonly referred to as Operation OAU, involved intense fighting and demonstrated the difficulties Federal forces faced when moving beyond riverine and coastal zones into densely defended inland territory. The Biafran forces resisted strongly, retaking some positions and prolonging conflict in areas like Owerri.
Role of Local Expertise
Although formal Nigerian Army sources place overall command with Adekunle and then Obasanjo, Isaac Adaka Boro, a Niger Delta figure granted amnesty, played a documented role after joining Federal forces, contributing local knowledge of the delta terrain and leading riverine units during early operations. Boro and his men, known as the “Sea School Boys,” operated under the wider umbrella of the 3rd Marine Commando Division, aiding movement through complex waterways.
Operational Challenges and Transition
Despite initial successes along the coast, the 3rd Marine Commando struggled at times during inland campaigns that extended beyond its primary amphibious competence. By 1969, growing operational challenges and a need to restructure prompted Federal command to appoint Obasanjo to lead the division. Obasanjo’s tenure saw the unit cooperate with other Federal Army formations in final offensives that broke remaining Biafran resistance.
Legacy
The 3rd Marine Commando is historically significant as a pioneering amphibious formation in the Nigerian Army, adapting to a unique operational environment in the Civil War. Its early campaigns helped cripple Biafra’s seaborne access and contributed to tightening the Federal blockade. The leadership of commanders such as Adekunle and Obasanjo shaped both the conduct of Federal campaigns and the post‑war reputation of the Nigerian Army. The division’s actions are still studied in Nigerian military history as examples of joint operations in complex terrain.
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Author’s Note
This article presents an account of the 3rd Marine Commando Division in the Nigerian Civil War, based strictly on verified sources. It highlights how Federal forces adapted to coastal and riverine warfare, the role of leadership in key operations, and the division’s influence on the outcome of the conflict. Readers will gain an accurate understanding of how the 3MCDO shaped some of the most critical campaigns of the war and how its legacy continues to inform Nigerian military history.
References
- Okechukwu Udeagbala, African Navies: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives, Routledge, 2022
- Dawodu Reports on Federal Nigerian Army operations in the Civil War
- Scholarly summaries of Civil War campaigns, including Operation Tiger Claw and Operation OAU.
