Witness History Escaping Nigeria's Biafra war
Dec 3, 2025
Patricia Ngozi Ebigwe, known as Patti Boulaye, is a Nigerian-born TV and music star who escaped the harrowing Biafra war as a teenager. She shares her gripping journey of fleeing violence, hiding her identity, and witnessing unimaginable brutality during the conflict. The chaos on the road to safety and the trauma of helping bury the dead are stark highlights of her story. After a traumatic reunion with her mother, she speaks on coping with the past and how she transformed her life in England, finding success in entertainment.
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Secession Driven By Targeted Violence
- The secession of Biafra followed targeted attacks and a breakdown of trust between regions.
- Governor Odumegwu Ojukwu concluded separation was necessary to save 'the very semblance of Nigeria as one country.'
Living In Fear In Lagos
- Patricia Ngozi Ebigwe (Patti Boulaye) hid her Igbo identity in Lagos and felt constant fear for safety.
- She described soldiers attacking homes and the disappearance of people she knew, including her sister's boyfriend Cyril.
Smuggled Through The Exodus
- Patricia and her sister were smuggled by a Yoruba woman, 'Mama Johnson', to escape advancing Nigerian troops.
- Their car joined a chaotic exodus and Patricia vividly remembered red dust, people dragging animals, and a Queen Elizabeth wrapper.