Thread by @IgboHistoFacts

Today in History: Asaba Massacre took place

On this day, October 7, 1967, one of the heinous massacres took place in Asaba, present-day Delta state. The Nigerian troops invaded Asaba and shot dead over 2000 people.

What was their crime? It's a thread

Retweet to educate someone

Today marks 54 years the people of Asaba in Delta state have been living in deep sorrow and anguish. They've been swimming in the ocean of misery and trauma as a result of the Nigerian-Biafran civil war.

It was alleged that the massacre was carried out to teach the Asaba people

a bitter lesson "for being and supporting Biafrans". Barely three months into the war over the declaration of the Republic of Biafra, the federal troops descended on the small town on the west bank of the River Niger. Like possessed beings, the federal troops went beserk,

ransacking and vandalising homes, killing every "man" sighted and destroying homes, among other things. The killings started on 5th October and took another horrendous dimension on Oct. 7, 1967. That day, hundreds of men, women and children came out chanting "One Nigeria"

in support and solidarity with the federal troops. Many of them came out in their best local white attire (akwa ọcha). But the military had other plans. They took the innocent citizens to Ogbe-Osowa area of the town. There, they killed hundreds of men in cold blood. And Asaba

laid prostate, in ruins. A town without men.

The order for the killing was reportedly given by Major General Ibrahim Taiwo. Ironically, Taiwo was beheaded during a coup in 1976, reinforcing the saying that those that kill by the sword will surely die by the sword.

Another version of witness account credited to Dr. Uchenna Gwam, who escaped death by whiskers said: "The Nigerian troops that came into Asaba came with the aim of eliminating every Asaba man as they thought they were fathers, brothers and uncles of Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, the

leader of the 1st Nigerian coup in 1966 that killed Sarduana of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello. CKN, hailed from Okpanam, 5 kms drive from Asaba. I would rather say those soldiers that came to Asaba were on a revenge mission and not after the Biafrans. He further said that when the

federal troops opened fire on the defenceless Asaba residents, Ibrahim Taiwo was excitedly shouting: "Kill them all! They are all unbelievers!"

The mass murder was not a one-off thing. "At Ogbe-Osowa, the mayhem was on Oct. 8 at John Halt, it was Oct. 9, 1967; at St. Patrick's

college, Asaba and Umujia, both in early 1968.

Little did Asaba people know that the attempt to embrace the federal troops was a game of death. Every village prepared and went to Ogbe-osowa square, thinking that they were coming to receive their friends but the reverse was the

case. When they got there, they separated the men from the women. The next thing they opened fire. The whole men there were mowed down. The women buried those men killed. The women went through the lifeless bodies looking for their own people because everybody wore

akwa ọcha. So, if you recognised anyone that you know, you take the body and bury. Vultures were feasting on the dead, puncturing their stomachs. The soldiers took advantage of the situation and raped so many women, both young and old, they forcefully married so many others.

A cenotaph had been erected in memory of the fallen, with their names inscribed on the wall.

We remember today the victims of the despicable massacre of unarmed Igbo civilians masterminded by General Murtala Mohammed, carried out by Major Taiwo and his boys.

God rest the dead.

@threadreaderapp please unroll the thread history of "Asaba Massacre" of October 7, 1967.

In the picture below are the names of the victims. May they keep resting. Forever in our hearts.

© Igbo History and Facts.