First Republic & Civil War — the Mid-West Invasion (1960–1970) — Edo State

9 August 1963 — Mid-West plebiscite — peaceful but exposes Benin–Itsekiri–Urhobo–Ijaw–Anioma cleavages.
★ 9–20 August 1967 — Mid-West Invasion — Biafran Brig. Victor Banjo crosses the Niger at Onitsha-Asaba and takes Benin City on 9 Aug 1967; declares the short-lived Republic of Benin on 18 September 1967 with Albert Okonkwo as administrator; the federal 2 Division under Col. Murtala Muhammed retakes Benin on 20 Sept 1967 after a costly assault. Pattern: state collapse / occupation.
20 September 1967 — Federal recapture of Benin — civilian massacres of suspected Igbo "collaborators" by federal troops; documented at Sapele Road, Ring Road and the GRA.
Recurring Asaba-route killings (Oct 1967 onwards) — Benin used as 2 Division staging point for the Asaba/Onitsha advance.
1968 air strikes — Nigerian Air Force MiGs strike alleged Biafran logistics nodes at Iguobazuwa and Ekiadolor.