On Nov. 18th, it will be 70yrs since the Iva Valley massacre and we at the @cfmemories, in partnership with the Enugu Sports Club and @EnuguLiterary, are planning a memorial celebration.
Many don't know the story of the massacre. This thread summarises it.
👇 👇
Many don't know the story of the massacre. This thread summarises it.
👇 👇
The Iva Valley coal mine was opened in 1917, 2 years after the first one in Obwetti was opened. Both mines used the Pillar and Stall system for extracting coal, a system where the mine and the miners were divided into sections and fractions of specialized workers respectively.
During the World Wars 1 and 2, the coal from the Enugu Government Colliery was the major source of fuel for the Nigerian Government Railway, other West African railways and even England itself because of its central and strategic position.
After WW2, the workers, encouraged by the war propaganda to claim their right to define their own development, had new awareness of what their responsibilities were to their families and communities and demanded better deals for their people such as compulsory education.
By 1945, workers were already showing signs of discontent and crises were erupting in several fronts. There had been a lot of post-war protests and a General Strike in Nigeria at the time. In all these, the workers became reluctant to work and output rate fell greatly.
Things degenerated greatly. The government made a move to hire new miners and that was when the workers moved to take over the mines. Over 900 policemen who were predominantly Hausa men were brought in from the north, to remove the explosives from the mines which the...
...authorities feared would get into the radical (Zikist) hands. At first, the workers were hesitant to allow the explosives be removed, as they interpreted this to be a lock-out. Then they refused to assist in the removal arguing that it was not part of their job.
The officials used other means to get the explosives out. By this time, hundreds of miners gathered at the gate and Captain F. S. Philip opened fire on them claiming they came to attack his men with bows, arrows, machetes and the likes, a claim debunked by several eyewitnesses.
Over 21 miners were killed on the spot, with over 50 others injured. 11 other miners later died in hospital taking the toll of dead miners to 32.
No arrangements were made to care for the wounded miners and the dead bodies stayed there till their families came for them.
No arrangements were made to care for the wounded miners and the dead bodies stayed there till their families came for them.
On Nov 16, there will be a remembrance celebration for these heroes at the Enugu Sports Club.
We will give a more detailed information about the celebration soon.
Please RT to spread awareness.
We will give a more detailed information about the celebration soon.
Please RT to spread awareness.
