Biafra as a nation has suffered incalculable losses in
the course of its struggle and fight for freedom and independence. The land of
the rising sun – Biafra, is a nation forced into the contraption called
Nigeria. Nigeria is a contraption created by the British colonial authorities,
it is a forced merger of various distinct nations constituting Biafra in the
East, Arewa or the Muslim Emirates in the North and Oduduwa in the West also
the middle belts.
Since the arbitrary amalgamation of these irreconcilable
nations in 1914, by the British colonial’s lords, things have changed from bad
to worse for Biafrans. It has always been a history of one massacre to the
other. Biafrans have been killed severally for no fault of theirs rather than
for being gifted, creative, talented and industrious. The killing of Biafrans
took place in the Northern city of Kano in 1953, where hundreds of innocent
Biafrans were slaughtered in a pogrom backed by the
government of Nigeria.
The killing of Biafrans continued up till 1966, when
another holocaust was meted on Biafrans in the Northern part of Nigeria and
some parts of the West. Biafran men, women and children were killed and
slaughtered under the watch and supervision of the federal government of
Nigeria and the world looked on and did nothing.
On the 30th May 1967, The Republic of Biafra was declared
by His Excellency, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. But the Nigerian government
were bent on killing and exterminating Biafrans because they lacked the
sanctity to respect and honour Biafra’s right to freedom and
self-determination. In his barbarism, the then Nigerian head of state - General
Yakubu “Jack” Gowon, declared war on Biafra for daring to ask for freedom from
the murderous and atrocious entity called Nigeria.
Biafrans had no choice other than to fight the battle for
survival. As the fighting raged, Britain, Egypt, Russian, Sudan, and many other
Arab nations joined forces with Nigeria to commit one of the worst genocides in
the history of mankind. The genocide spearheaded by the British Empire claimed
the lives of more than 3.5 million Biafrans including women, pregnant women and
children. Worthy of note is that the British Government then, under Harold
Wilson committed the worst genocide in history in Biafra land, and up till date
no official statement of remorse from Britain has been recorded. The blood of
innocent Biafrans - women and children, are crying for justice and their
spirits will not rest until the cause for which they were massacred is
accomplished - the restoration of Biafra as a free and independent nation.
On the 14th of October 2015, Citizen Nnamdi Kanu - the
leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was kidnapped by the Department
of State Security (DSS). This led to various protests by Biafrans worldwide,
demanding for the immediate release of the IPOB leader, with placards written “Free Nnamdi Kanu” and “Free Biafra.” During those
protests in Biafra land, the Nigerian Armed Forces would continually open fire
on unarmed peaceful Biafran protesters who are agitating for the freedom of
Biafra and that of their leader – Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Considering the predicaments that Biafra has been through
and in their tradition of honouring and appreciating honourable and selfless
services, decided to honour all the people that paid the supreme price in that
genocidal war against Biafra, all Biafrans as well as non-Biafrans who died defending Biafra. We also recognise all living Biafran
and non-Biafran heroes who fought for the freedom and independence of Biafra
between 1967-1970.
Biafrans shall on the 30th of May 2018, remain indoors
and honour our fallen heroes and it shall be fruitful, and in the end, Biafra
shall have freedom. For the murderous Nigeria government, which has taken it
upon itself to continue to subjugate and to slaughter unarmed Biafrans, it has
to remember that those who shed blood must pay for them. Nigerian Government cannot
kill us and at the same time, stop us from mourning our dead. We have every
right to pay respect to Biafran heroes and heroines who paid the ultimate prize
for the restoration of the sovereign state of Biafra.
WE MUST REMEMBER THEM
FOR THE PRICE THEY PAID FOR US TO LIVE
They called on all grown men in Asaba to gather and shout
One Nigeria, and as they gathered, Murtala Mohammed and his gang of Nigeria
evil soldiers opened fire on thousands of these civilians, killing almost all
of them instantly. They inspected the corpses and shot seeming survivals in the
head at close range. It was very few that made it alive. Men weren't buried
because there were scarce men to do the job. Imagine the stench, the smells and
the diseases this caused Asaba people and its environs.
Women lost husbands, brothers, uncles and friends. There
were no much men to marry the teaming young ladies left in Asaba. The method
used in Asaba were quite different from what happened in other places like Ikwerre.
In Ikwerre no one was gathered to be executed. They were simply told to deny
being Igbo. They rush out in their numbers and started denying being Igbo. They
fall in love with the letter 'R' and started corrupting their languages, names
of villages and towns with the letter ‘R’. Umuokoro became Rumuokoro, and
Umuobi became Rumuobi. In no distant time almost all the kids growing at that
time lost their identity or suffered identity crisis.
The evil genocide committed against the people of Asaba
is something we can't stop talking about. The reason for this genocide is
simple. Destroy all traces of Igbo people across the Niger. Let them be trapped
into what they today call South East. In the spirit of subjugation, the Nigeria
government didn't stop at the genocide, they continued it with policies. Every
of their policies was to keep Igbos and entire South-South down. Even when
Igbos are many in today's South-South, the Nigeria government divided them into
two, cutting off brothers. Some towns where divided into two, some
became South East and others South-South.
As we celebrate the 51 years of Biafra, we can't forget
the massacre of Igbos in Asaba, the effort of every Biafran who willingly
joined the Biafra army and those conscripted into standing tall for Biafra. We
can't forget all the children that suffered Kwashiorkor because of the blockade
policy of Gowon and Awolowo. We can't forget those that were taken to Gabon for
treatment but never made it back.
We can't forget the mothers that were with child during
the war, mothers who have to breastfeed their children when suffering from
severe malnutrition. Not forgetting the girls brigade, those gallant women who
fought alongside men, in that war of survival.
How can we forget those killed in Aba and their bodies
mutilated and dumped in borrow pit by Buhari's military. You are not forgotten
those killed in Onitsha. That young little girl that was shot down by careless
military men on her way to school can't be forgotten. The undergraduate lady
that met her death on her way back to school in Onitsha can't also be
forgotten. Those forced to drink mud water until they died, those killed in
primary school at Aba and those killed in the palace of HRH Igwe Kanu, we assure
you all of our continuous remembrance. Many has sacrificed a lot. We can't
forget. We remember you all. When SIT-AT-HOME, it's for all of you. For all we
suffered together.
Biafra is here, it's certain.
Happy survival to all of you daughters and sons of
Biafra.
Sit at home we must!
Oji River killing of hospital staff and patients: 2nd
August 1968, Nigerian atrocities in Biafra; in a hospital outside Enugu, the
vandals shot all fourteen Biafran nurses who stayed behind and then went down
the wards killing the patients as well. And sadly enough, according to Mr. C.
N. C. Nnolim, these Biafran civilians massacred by the Nigerian soldiers were
not even buried but left in the open air to be devoured by vultures and wild
beasts.
Those that was killed in National High School in Aba
February 2016, those of Nkpor in Onitsha province, and those that was killed in
Ishiala Ngwa on their way to Ibeku in August 2017. Also, not forgetting the
last words of that 18 years old boy that said that his concern is not his death
but we should not let his death to be in vain, and not forgetting the tea
centre man that was killed inside his store by so called accidental discharge
of military men in Ariaria International Market Aba. Even that volunteer man
from Enugu who was killed with a poisonous bullet, and those that ran into
swamp and didn't come out in Bayelsa, not forgetting those ones that died in
the platform of MASSOB under Uwazurike. I can't forget the effort of Chimaobi (Waka-waka),
and that of London Coordinator (Uzu Awka) who spent three months in prison. To all Biafrans who are still in the dungeon,
we owe them nothing but just 12 hours of Sit-At-Home 30th May 2018.
Written by:
Mazi Dimkpa Ikenna
Ikenga Amadioha-Gbo
For: Rivers State Media
(Igwuocha Province)
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