The Tragedy of Victory: On the Spot Account of the Nigeria – Biafra War in the Atlantic Theatre is a detailed chronological narrative of the war that lasted from July 6, 1967 to January 15, 1970. With about 500 photographs and maps, the book dwarfs all other previous, publications on this subject matter in terms of depth of facts, coverage and accuracy. The well-organised, well-disciplined and efficient Third Marine Commandos, the soldiers in the theatre of the war earlier commanded by Col. Benjamin Adekunle with Lt. Col. Alabi-Isama, the Chief of Staff, already controlled the Atlantic coast from Bonny to Calabar before Col. Olusegun Ogbasanjo’s arrival as the new commander.
This most revealing book is in three parts. The first part is an account of the author’s early life and his encounter with the army. Under the watchful eye of a mother who gave the best in moral education to a son of promise, Alabi-islama’s life shaped by a pre-destined career where the cap really fitted. The second part is about the real combat. It outlines, in detail, the strategies and tactics the commandos employed during historic 480km trek from Calabar to Port Harcourt and narrates the hostile climate, terrain and environment, the travails, health and survival hazards they had to surmount on the 30-day March. The think-tank, the mapping out of operations and disciplined control of men and materials by Alabi-Islama, the chief of staff, as well the officers of 3 Marine Commando Division of the Nigerian army, sustained the Nigerian side of the conflict. This section concludes with the final successful push by the commandos into Uli-Ihiala, Biafra’s centre of gravity, ‘a move that ended the war following the surrender of Biafra. The third part is an expose on Obasanjo’s book, my command. The author contests Obasabjo’s claims about the war as being inconsistent with truth and maintain that it is a tragedy that real fighter of the war for the unity of Nigeria have not been acknowledged to date. Rather they wallow in poverty and are discredited by their military leaders who assumed political offices with all the accompanying largesse.
The book is a rich manual, a repository of invaluable information and document that gives a precise and veritable first-person account of the Nigeria civil war, in the Atlantic theatre. it is a must for every serving and retired member of the armed forces to own. Other Nigerians and the International community would find it particularly useful in reconstructing the events of Nigeria’s civil war.
 

Table of Contents
Part One – The Early Years
Chapter One – What Attracted Me to the Army P. 3
Chapter Two – The Turning Point P. 28
Chapter Three – Posting to Asaba P. 45
Chapter Four – escape from Biafran Captors P. 66
Chapter Five – Operation Tiger Claw P. 77
Chapter Six – Return from Obubra P. 96
Chapter Seven – The Challenges P. 129
Part Two
3MCDO Troops Advance:
Calabar to Port Harcourt April 17th to May 18th, 1968
Chapter Eight – The 30 Days March to Port Harcourt P. 207
Chapter Nine Adekunle in Port Harcourt P. 276
Chapter Ten – Biafra Recaptures Ikot Ekpene P. 307
Chapter Eleven – OAU and the Death of Shande P. 341
Chapter Twelve – The Beginning of the end P. 365
Chapter Thirteen – Exit Adekunle, enter Obasanjo P. 400
Part Three
Chapter Fourteen – Expose on Obsanjo’s my Command