The Asaba massacres occurred in early October 1967, during the Nigerian Civil War, fought over the secession of Biafra (the former Eastern Region of Nigeria). Biafran troops invaded the Midwest Region of Nigeria, to the west of the River Niger, in early August, 1967. They spread west, taking Benin City and reaching as far as Ore, where they were pushed back by the Nigerian Second Division, under the command of Col. Murtala Muhammed.

The Federal troops gained the upper hand, and forced the Biafrans back to the Niger, where they crossed the bridge back into the Biafran city of Onitsha, which lies directly across from Asaba. The Biafrans blew up the eastern spans of the bridge, so that the Federal troops were unable to pursue them.

The Federal troops entered Asaba around October 5, and began ransacking houses and killing civilians, claiming they were Biafran sympathisers. Leaders summoned the townspeople to assemble on the morning of October 7, hoping to end the violence through a show of support for "One Nigeria." Hundreds of men, women, and children, many wearing the ceremonial akwa ocha (white) attire paraded along the main street, singing, dancing, and chanting "One Nigeria." At a junction, men and teenage boys were separated from women and young children, and gathered in an open square at Ogbe-Osawa village. Federal troops revealed machine guns, and orders were given by Maj. Ibrahim Taiwo to open fire. It is estimated that more than 700 men and boys were killed, some as young as 12 years old, in addition to many more killed in the preceding days.

The bodies of some victims were retrieved by family members and buried at home. But most were buried in many mass graves, without appropriate ceremony. Many extended families lost dozens of men and boys. Federal troops occupied Asaba for many months, during which time most of the town was destroyed, many women and girls were raped or forcibly "married," and large numbers of citizens fled, many not returning until the war ended in 1970.

Eyyen?

This story is still fresh in Asaba till this day.

It even affected the family of Late Mariam Babangida... I'm not from Asaba, but I have family friends who told us the ever painful story.

It was really painful. Only God can judge such .

denko:
The Asaba massacres occurred in early October 1967, during the Nigerian Civil War, fought over the secession of Biafra (the former Eastern Region of Nigeria). Biafran troops invaded the Midwest Region of Nigeria, to the west of the River Niger, in early August, 1967. They spread west, taking Benin City and reaching as far as Ore, where they were pushed back by the Nigerian Second Division, under the command of Col. Murtala Muhammed.
The Federal troops gained the upper hand, and forced the Biafrans back to the Niger, where they crossed the bridge back into the Biafran city of Onitsha, which lies directly across from Asaba. The Biafrans blew up the eastern spans of the bridge, so that the Federal troops were unable to pursue them.
The Federal troops entered Asaba around October 5, and began ransacking houses and killing civilians, claiming they were Biafran sympathisers. Leaders summoned the townspeople to assemble on the morning of October 7, hoping to end the violence through a show of support for "One Nigeria." Hundreds of men, women, and children, many wearing the ceremonial akwa ocha (white) attire paraded along the main street, singing, dancing, and chanting "One Nigeria." At a junction, men and teenage boys were separated from women and young children, and gathered in an open square at Ogbe-Osawa village. Federal troops revealed machine guns, and orders were given by Maj. Ibrahim Taiwo to open fire. It is estimated that more than 700 men and boys were killed, some as young as 12 years old, in addition to many more killed in the preceding days.
The bodies of some victims were retrieved by family members and buried at home. But most were buried in many mass graves, without appropriate ceremony. Many extended families lost dozens of men and boys. Federal troops occupied Asaba for many months, during which time most of the town was destroyed, many women and girls were raped or forcibly "married," and large numbers of citizens fled, many not returning until the war ended in 1970.

it was murtala

Can't you guys just let the sleeping Dog lie? We ve all made mistakes or should I say our Father's east west south north have all made mistakes,must we do the same?

duality:
This story is still fresh in Asaba till this day.

It even affected the family of Late Mariam Babangida... I'm not from Asaba, but I have family friends who told us the ever painful story.

It was really painful. Only God can judge such .

You guys are holding on to the past of over 3 decades......it sucks

ki02020:


You guys are holding on to the past of over 3 decades......it sucks

Go to Ityoppia(Ethiopia).. They still relive the 1540 invasion of Ahmad Gran as if it happened yesterday.
Asaba agaghi echefu!

Yet they chant ONE NIGERIA without conscience. Even as the innocent victims came out in fear in support of One Nigeria, they still went ahead and decimated them. Talk about evil...here is one staring you right in the face! One Nigeria on the blood of millions of Biafrans murdered in cold blood and you think all will be well with Nigeria? Without atonement and reparations? May the blood of these gallant Biafrans especially the adolescents continue to haunt every family member of those that perpetrated this genocide...living and unborn. May they never know peace until their deaths are atoned for and Biafra restored; so we can honor them magnificently!

cheruv:

Go to Ityoppia(Ethiopia).. They still relive the 1540 invasion of Ahmad Gran as if it happened yesterday.
Asaba agaghi echefu!

And what is the level of development in ethopia that is holding on to the past .....the America
And British is an example of forgive and forget when you talk of the american revolution but both countries are one of the world great allies of today

It is a pity Ojukwu is no longer around for him to apologize to his people for leading them to a point of no return, because of his selfish interest.

What is this saying ??

Why didnt this cursed op tell d story of how the rogues, who called themselves biafran soldiers, raped women and killed the men and robbed benin branch of d central bank when the biafran eediots occupied benin? Do you all know why it was easy for nigerian army to push d biafran rogues out of d midwest and asaba? It was because the rogues chose to rape, kill and rob, instead of consolidating their position in benin. Useless flaaaatheads. They will always tell the parts that support their blind course, but leave the area where they are faulty untold.

wadetaw202:
Why didnt this cursed op tell d story of how the rogues, who called themselves biafran soldiers, raped women and killed the men and robbed benin branch of d central bank when the biafran eediots occupied benin? Do you all know why it was easy for nigerian army to push d biafran rogues out of d midwest and asaba? It was because the rogues chose to rape, kill and rob, instead of consolidating their position in benin. Useless flaaaatheads. They will always tell the parts that support their blind course, but leave the area where they are faulty untold.

^^^We'll leave the fables for monsters like you to tell!

Say NO to any kind of war

masseratti:
Can't you guys just let the sleeping Dog lie? We ve all made mistakes or should I say our Father's east west south north have all made mistakes,must we do the same?

You are Evil in disguise

Murtala Mohammed was in charge of that army and not any Ibrahim Taiwo.Its already too late to try and change history

History would never forget murtala mohammed for the atrocities he committed in asaba

madridguy:
It is a pity Ojukwu is no longer around for him to apologize to his people for leading them to a point of no return, because of his selfish interest.

For many years, the story making the rounds was that it was Murtala Muhammed that ordered the soldiers to fire in Asaba. Who is this Ibrahim, again?? In fact it was said that Murtala Muhammed gave direct orders during the event. Read it all here: http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/lawrence-chinedu-nwobu/remembering-murtala-muhammed-the-butcher-of-asaba.html

So when did the story change?

Their matter tire me ooooo

laudate:


For many years, the story making the rounds was that it was Murtala Muhammed that ordered the soldiers to fire in Asaba. Who is this Ibrahim, again?? In fact it was said that Murtala Muhammed gave direct orders during the event. Read it all here: http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/lawrence-chinedu-nwobu/remembering-murtala-muhammed-the-butcher-of-asaba.html

So when did the story change?

madridguy:
Their matter tire me ooooo

Here is another version that states who gave the order during the massacre. The man confessed live and direct, that it was him. There was no mention of an Ibrahim Taiwo anywhere.

No regrets for the Asaba massacre of Igbo -Haruna (Wednesday 10th October, 2001)
By Sufuyan Ojeifo & Lemmy Ughegbe, Vanguard

ABUJA — GENERAL Officer Commanding (GOC) Two Division of the Army during the civil war, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Haruna said yesterday that he had no regret for the Asaba massacre in which over 500 Igbo men were killed by his troops.

Testifying for the second day running for the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at the Oputa panel sitting, Gen. Haruna also revealed that Nigeria’s late Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa had a foreknowledge of the 1966 coup that claimed his life.

He said the late Prime Minister even turned down an invitation from the British government to pass the night of January 14, 1966 at the British High Commission in Lagos to escape from the coup plotters.

Gen. Haruna who was under cross-examination by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s counsel, Chief Anthony Mogbo (SAN) said whatever action he or his troops took during the war was motivated by a sense of duty to protect the unity of the country.

"As the commanding officer and leader of the troops that massacred 500 men in Asaba, I have no apology for those massacred in Asaba, Owerri and Ameke-Item. I acted as a soldier maintaining the peace and unity of Nigeria," he declared.

"If Gen. Yakubu Gowon apologised, he did it in his own capacity. As for me I have no apology," explaining, however, that "it was as barbaric as the 1966 coup; it was as barbaric as the pogrom, if there was also any other atrocity, the Kano extrajudicial killing was as barbaric as that."

Gen. Haruna also recommended that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida be charged with failure to investigate the 1966 coup during their different terms as head of state.

"Charge Buhari, Gowon, Babangida for not investigating the 1966 coup on the grounds of dereliction of duty," he said.

On the 1966 coup, Gen. Haruna informed the panel that the late Alhaji Tafawa-Balewa, among other prominent Nigerians, had a foreknowledge of the coup.

He said the late Prime Minister actually turned down an invitation from the British government to pass the night at its High Commission in Lagos as he believed the mutineers would kill him.

Called by Mogbo (SAN) to explain the rationale behind ACF tagging the 1966 coup an "Igbo coup in spite of Alhaji Balewa, M.D. Yusuf, then a police officer, Col. Maimalari and many others of Northern extraction having prior knowledge of the coup, the star witness declined response.

http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/nmwpg1HarunaIgboMassacre.html

Now am confused because I don't know which version to believe again. Was it Murtala Muhammed, or Ibrahim Haruna or this new guy - Ibrahim Taiwo?

God is paying them back now. That's what i think, because i see no reason why a Child should pick up guns and start killing his brothers.

wadetaw202:
Why didnt this cursed op tell d story of how the rogues, who called themselves biafran soldiers, raped women and killed the men and robbed benin branch of d central bank when the biafran eediots occupied benin? Do you all know why it was easy for nigerian army to push d biafran rogues out of d midwest and asaba? It was because the rogues chose to rape, kill and rob, instead of consolidating their position in benin. Useless flaaaatheads. They will always tell the parts that support their blind course, but leave the area where they are faulty untold.

Guy, take it easy. Cursing and railing at others does not solve anything. All sides lost people in the war. Both the federal side and the Biafrans.

There are families in different parts of Nigeria that still grieve for their lost ones that went to war, and never came back.

People were conscripted forcefully on the streets in the North and South, to join the war effort.

Wailing won't bring them back. We can only pray that their souls find peace.

As for the comment you made up there, it was Ojukwu who ordered his soldiers to loot the Central Bank of Benin.

Read the excerpt here:

Change of Currency

And it is on record that Ojukwu admitted that two things defeated him in this war, that’s as at the day he left Biafra.

He said one, the change of currency, he said that was the first thing that defeated him, and we did that to prevent Ojukwu taking the money which his soldiers has stolen from our Central bank for sale abroad to buy arms.

We discovered he looted our Central bank in Benin, he looted the one in Port Harcourt, looted the one in Calabar and he was taking the currency notes abroad to sell to earn foreign exchange to buy arms. http://www.punchng.com/news/for-the-record/my-role-in-the-civil-war-awolowo/

Thanks for the link bro.

laudate:


Here is another version that states who gave the order during the massacre. The man confessed live and direct, that it was him. There was no mention of an Ibrahim Taiwo anywhere.



Now am confused because I don't know which version to believe again. Was it Murtala Muhammed, or Ibrahim Haruna or this new guy - Ibrahim Taiwo?

laudate:


Here is another version that states who gave the order during the massacre. The man confessed live and direct, that it was him. There was no mention of an Ibrahim Taiwo anywhere.



Now am confused because I don't know which version to believe again. Was it Murtala Muhammed, or Ibrahim Haruna or this new guy - Ibrahim Taiwo?

Murtala Mohammed was the most senior officer involved. The other two guys were his surbordinates as well as accomplices in the massacre.

Murtala Mohammed as the most senior officer is the only one who could have stopped the massacres and is to take full responsibility for it

You guys have reduced what ought to be a national historical marker to a national historical mockery.

One time it was Murtala that ordered the massacre.
Next time TY Danjuma ordered the massacre.
Then another time the massacre was ordered by Akinrinade.
Then you woke one day and said Buhari was responsible.

Now it is no longer Murtala, it wasn't Danjuma, Akinrinade was not responsible, Buhari is not guilty of the massacre.......

Ibrahim Taiwo, yes, Taiwo was the one who ordered the massacre!

Okay

This is the true story, i dont blame those hauling insult on the OP, but i pray you will be alive to see the the law of karma taking it cause

ki02020:


You guys are holding on to the past of over 3 decades......it sucks

I don't blame you. You can afford to say this because it is not your people that were massacred

OPCNAIRALAND:
You guys have reduced what ought to be a national historical marker to a national historical mockery.

One time it was Murtala that ordered the massacre.
Next time TY Danjuma ordered the massacre.
Then another time the massacre was ordered by Akinrinade.
Then you woke one day and said Buhari was responsible.

Now it is no longer Murtala, it wasn't Danjuma, Akinrinade was not responsible, Buhari is not guilty of the massacre.......

Ibrahim Taiwo, yes, Taiwo was the one who ordered the massacre!

It doesn't matter if it was Don Jazzy himself that ordered the massacre. What is important is that Murtala was in overall command of the Soldiers and as such, should bear responsibility for the conduct of his men.

Those same murderous fellows are still putting off their khaki & putting on agbada to answer your excellencies in Nigeria.

ki02020:


You guys are holding on to the past of over 3 decades......it sucks

When you forget history, it has a way of repeating itself.

Americans always mark the 911 event every year to remind themselves of how evil terrorism can be just like several other countries do.

We can try to forgive but we can never forget that we live in the midst of those who hates us and would take every chance to try and annihilate us just like they tried during the war but failed woefully. There was no single justification for the asaba massacre except HATRED.