This period, we shall be bringing to you some event and
brief history about Biafra genocide of 1967 to 1970. No matter how they want us
to forget it, we shall resist them because "We Shall Never Forget." I
will be using reference from the late sage and the finest writer from Africa,
Late Prof Chinua Achebe.
BIAFRA TAKES AN
OIL RIG: THE KWALE INCIDENT
In the middle of the rainy season of 1969, Biafran
Military Intelligence allegedly obtained information that foreign oilmen,
particularly staff from the Italian government oil conglomerate, Eni were
aiding the Nigerian Army. The foreign workers were allegedly providing
sensitive military information to the federal forces about Biafran troops
position, strategic military manoeuvres and training.
The information was quickly made available to the Biafran
command, which swiftly sent soldiers on a stealth Dawn operation during which
they invaded Eni's combine in Kwale, in the Niger River Delta's oil reserve
known as Okpai oil field. By the end of the exercise eleven workers had been
killed, ten of the dead were Italian and one Jordan. The Biafrans took eighteen
Eni employees’ hostages. Fourteen were Italian, three German and one Lebanese.
What happened next would stir international outrage of epic proportions and
threaten the fragile emotional and moral support that the Biafrans had
developed during the course of the war.
The men were quickly detained on Biafran soil, tried and
found guilty of supporting the enemy, the federal troops of Nigeria to wage a
war of genocide. Predictably, there was a spontaneous outcry and appeal for
clemency from disparate groups and countries. The Vatican and the embassies of
Italy, Germany, Portugal and Biafra African supporters like Ivory Coast and
Gabon were at the vanguard of those asking for the release of the prisoners.
Biafra local and international supporters were dismayed.
One observer commented at the time saying " this indeed was not what the
cause was about, we engage in a fight of self-determination... this was an
unnecessary and costly distraction. Biafra officials were adamant, even
obstinate, the enclave minister for information, Ifegwu Eke had this to say
"OILMEN ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN MERCENARIES" this are the people
responsible for our sufferings.
OJUKWU'S RADIO
PRONOUNCEMENT
Oscillating amid impassioned outrage and constrained
eloquence, the Biafran Leader exclaimed: "FOR EIGHTEEN WHITE MEN, EUROPE
IS AROUSED. WHAT HAVE THEY SAID ABOUT OUR MILLIONS? EIGHTEEN WHITE MEN
ASSISTING IN CRIME OF GENOCIDE. WHAT DO THEY SAY ABOUT OUR MURDERED INNOCENTS?
HOW MANY BLACK DEAD MAKE ONE MISSING WHITE? MATHEMATICIANS, PLEASE ANSWER ME.
IS IT INFINITY?
After Ojukwu received a private letter from Pope in June
1969, personally pleading for the release of the oilmen, many in Ojukwu's inner
circle were concerned about an international backlash. If the situation is not
resolved swiftly, they feared it could precipitate an instant sinking of Biafra
International reputation and permanent loss of the Vatican, Italian, indeed
international humanitarian support. Eventually in late June, the eighteen
detained men were released and flown out of Biafra in the custody of diplomats
from Ivory Coast and Gabon.
ACHEBE'S THOUGHT:
Be that as it may, the fact that seemed to have completely escaped the Biafran leaders
was this: as a people proclaiming victimization at the hands of Nigeria and
rightfully so, we could not be seen as victimizers in any situation or setting,
in order to continue receiving widespread moral and humanitarian support we
needed to survive. This failure to recognize this fundamental principle, I
believe contributed immensely to the downturn in Biafra's fortunes.
MY OWN THOUGHT:
Ojukwu reacted rightly and gave them a nice reply, why would the whites value
18 men over millions of Biafrans killed? Same thing is still happening today,
but tomorrow if Biafrans react, there will be another outburst from the
international Community. I wrote out this part for reflection, Ojukwu still
respected all those he could have respect. He still released those 18 whites
but the killings still continue before Biafrans surrendered few months later.
All Hail Biafra!
We shall never forget what the oilmen did to our land.
They gave out our information and the Nigerians capitalized on it and killed
our people.
May 30th, Sit-At-Home.
From Chinua Achebe's THERE WAS A COUNTRY
Written by:
Mazi Chukwudi Okeke
For: Lagos State Media
Edited by:
Oby Mboma
For: Lagos State Media
Published by:
Chibuike John Nebeokike
For: Lagos State Media
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