The Invasion of Umuahia occurred during the final stages of the Civil War and happened eight months prior to the Biafran surrender.

Ever since the early stages of the Nigerian Civil War, both sides had been fighting for control of the Imo State.

Many roads connecting Oguta and Owerri to Nigerian-controlled cities were purposely destroyed by Biafran soldiers to delay attacks by the Nigerian army.

Biafran President Odumegwu Ojukwu ordered Col. Omorowa, Adgara Ike, and Joseph Achuzie to defend the city.

The Biafrans managed to keep Oguta under their control for another 3 months but lost it when Olusegun Obasanjo invaded the city with full force on October 9, 1969.