Today's a good day as any to tell the story of what happened on Saturday 14th December 2002 as an example of the lingering issues of federal might in the Niger Delta.
Here's the story of Tinbebelakumo Agadah, who was a four year old then in the village of Odi.
Here's the story of Tinbebelakumo Agadah, who was a four year old then in the village of Odi.
Three years before, Operation Hakuri (Hausa for sorry) II had happened, no thanks to Obasanjo & TY Danjuma. Many reports put the death toll at >2000. Many women were raped and bodies dumped in the River Nun.
Timaya whose mum is from Odi, sang about this in Dem Mama (2005).
Timaya whose mum is from Odi, sang about this in Dem Mama (2005).
There were still ruins of buildings in Odi and that day in 2002, the young boy's mum set fire to a heap of rubbish near one set beside their house. Meanwhile the child was dutifully plucking bitterleaf for soup.
Suddenly there was a loud explosion.
Suddenly there was a loud explosion.
Poor Tinbebelakumo was hit in ten different spots on his belly. Then his legs. And a shrapnel in a few body parts.
Apparently, during the military's raid, several explosives/rifle propelled rockets had been left behind, lying undiscovered.
Apparently, during the military's raid, several explosives/rifle propelled rockets had been left behind, lying undiscovered.
According to Nnimmo Bassey, writing in ThisDay on 23 December, 2002, the boy was saved because he was not so close to the fire and because as a child, he was not tall enough to be hit by the upward swing of the objects.
An adult would not have survived it.
An adult would not have survived it.
