THE ASABA MASSACRE, OCTOBER 7, 1967

The Nigerian troops had entered Asaba on the 4th day of October 1967, in pursuit of Biafran soldiers who had earlier crossed Ore after taking Benin and dislodging Nigerian troops there.

But because the Biafran soldiers had blown up the Niger bridge to make it impossible for the Nigerian side to pursue them, Nigerian soldiers led by Lieutenant-Colonel Murtala Muhammed simply settled in Asaba where they started going from house-to-house killing people of the town who were accused of aiding the Biafran soldiers.

On the 7th day of October, after the house-to-house killing had gone on for days, the leaders of the town, in a bid to convince the Nigerian troops of their loyalty and support, summoned their people to come out in the street.

Hundreds of men, women, and children obeyed the summon and came out, mostly dressed in ceremonial Akwa Ọcha attire, singing, dancing, and chanting "One Nigeria". But the moment they got to the Ogbe-Osawa village square where the Nigerian troops were gathered, the soldiers separated the men and boys of 12 years and above from the women.

Orders were shouted. The guns were raised. The men and boys were showered with bullets, cut down in their prime. At the end of the bullet festival, more than 2,000 of them lay lifeless. There were dead bodies everywhere.

Most of them were later buried in a mass grave while the Nigerian troops still occupied the town, hunting down men and boys who escaped the October 7 massacre, and raping and forcefully “marrying” off women and young girls.

Ironically, those who led this massacre rose to become national heroes, with monuments named after them, and beautiful stories told about them.

However, for the Asaba people, the horrific and traumatic experience of the October 7 massacre still haunts them, even in silence, to this day, unless “something” is done and quickly.

It is Muritala Mohammed who carried the killing.

This are some of the reasons History was removed from our CURRICULUM.

But we will never forget.




Cc. Olawalebabs's
Richiez's.
Fynestboi's

The Minorities are always the Victims of the wrongs of the Nation.
Our Black Gold is a Black Curse!

The senior army officer that headed the unit directly responsible for the massacre was Ibrahim Taiwo. He would later become the military administrator of Kwara state before he was assassinated during the coup that ended Muritala Muhammed, who himself was the commander of the 2 Division responsible for the massacre.

Ibrahim Taiwo was the father of the similarly-named and equally notorious Ibrahim Taiwo, the commander of the 81 Division responsible for the 2020 Lekki massacre. Taiwo defended and justified the murders at the EndSars panel and shielded the battalion commander that led the units responsible for the massacre. Buratai later promoted Ibrahim Taiwo to Major General as a "Thank You".

Shoodboi:

The senior army officer that headed the unit directly responsible for the massacre was Ibrahim Taiwo. He would later become the military administrator of Kwara state before he was assassinated during the coup that ended Muritala Muhammed, who himself was the commander of the 2 Division responsible for the massacre.

Ibrahim Taiwo was the father of the similarly-named and equally notorious Ibrahim Taiwo, the commander of the 81 Division responsible for the 2020 Lekki massacre. Taiwo defended and justified the murders at the EndSars panel and shielded the battalion commander that led the units responsible for the massacre. Buratai later promoted Ibrahim Taiwo to Major General as a "Thank You".

Very true

donproject2:


Very true

He may end up like his dad if he doesn't repent.

But seriously, each time I remember the story of the Asaba Massacre, chills run through my spine
How can people who voluntarily came out to show unity end up being the victim?

As for Col Murtala Mohammed, he has always been a failure as he perished over two thousand troops while trying to cross the Niger which made the authorities give him compulsory leave.

He tried rebranding his name by doing some good things sha ...

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm feeling sober right now walahi

Damnnn!!!! History!!

I do much Love History!

So many innocent blood has been spilled in Nigeria!
It Sucks.

hmmmm......

Thanks for sharing

I read about the massacre and it was completely unfair and unjustified, they accused the people of harbouring Biafran soldiers, the Nigerian army basically killed people on a mere assumption.

Hmmm
Things we never knew

I am sure Muritala Mohammed later regretted the killings.

War changes people. I feel sorry for those who yearn for war