THE Asagba of Asaba, Obi Epiphany Azinge, has described the October 7, 1967, Asaba massacre by the Nigerian military as a war crime and crime against humanity.
Speaking on Sunday, October 6, at this year’s Asaba Memorial Day Celebration, in memory of the victims of the 1967 Asaba massacre, Azinge, who lauded the contributions and efforts of notable sons of Asaba for making the yearly event a success, decried the injustice and untold hardship suffered by families in Asaba as a result of the massacre.
Recall that the Nigerian military reportedly killed over 1,000 unarmed people of Asaba at the beginning of the Nigerian civil war in 1967.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the commemoration ceremony, held at the Ogwa-Ukwu Ahaba, the community town hall, marked the first official public function of Azinge, who was crown the 14th Asagba of Asaba on Saturday, October 5.
The monarch, while recalling the sacrifices and commitment of the people of Asaba toward the rapid growth and development of the town, said there could never be a justified reason for the massacre.
He stated that the painful event of October 7, 1967, would forever remain indelible in the hearts of the people of Asaba, adding: “The victims were innocent and unarmed family people.
“It is 57 years now when men and youths of Asaba were massacred in the most gruesome manner. It is a tragedy that we can never forget.
“All over the world, the killing of innocent and defenceless people is a serious crime against humanity. Even if we forgive, we can never forget and even in the next 57 years, we still will never forget the atrocities of the Nigeria military against our people.”
The monarch charged all sons and daughters of Asaba to rally round and form a common front to promote and propagate the rich culture, traditions and hospitality of the Asaba people.
He prayed to God to give the people the fortitude to bear the loss of their beloved family members killed in the most brutal manner.
Earlier in a welcome remark, Chairman of the Asaba Memorial and Monument Group, organisers of the yearly event, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze, said the remembrance was symbolic to the people of Asaba.
“We are here today to remember and honour the spirits of our people who were massacred by the Nigeria Army in 1967. This occasion is something very dear to all families in Asaba. It is an event that binds us together, because it is a matter of blood of our people.
“This journey that has brought us here today started in 1998. It is a very significant event in the history of Asaba.
“I want to enjoin the people of Asaba both at home and in the Diaspora to rally support for the actualisation of the projects initiated in memory of the victims of the massacre” he said.
Nduka-Eze, who is the Isama-Ajie of Asaba, said part of activities lined up to mark the Day include planting of 1,000 trees across Asaba, lunching of the Asaba Monument Hall in memory and remembrance of the victims.
