₦airaland Forum

So I am working on the theory of selective amnesia and response to brutal stimuli among Africans and I need your clear and objective response.

Operation Wetie: A Detailed Breakdown

Background (1962 - 1965)

Operation Wetie was the name given to the violent political crisis that engulfed the Western Region of Nigeria in the early 1960s. The term wetie (from Yoruba, meaning "to set ablaze" referred to the widespread burning of homes and properties, symbolizing the intensity of the conflict.

The crisis was fueled by deep political rivalries within the Yoruba leadership, particularly between:

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, leader of the Action Group (AG) and Premier of the Western Region (1952–1959).

Chief S.L. Akintola, who was originally Awolowo’s deputy but later broke away and aligned with the ruling federal government under the Northern People’s Congress (NPC).


The Action Group split in 1962, leading to political instability. Awolowo was arrested, charged with treason, and imprisoned, while Akintola, with federal backing, remained Premier of the Western Region. This deepened resentment among Awolowo’s supporters and led to widespread violence.


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The Violence (1965 - 1966)

By 1965, the Western Region descended into chaos and bloodshed, as supporters of both factions engaged in killings, arson, and destruction of property. The name Operation Wetie came from the practice of dousing political opponents with petrol and setting them on fire.

Key Elements of the Violence

Political assassinations: Many prominent figures and political supporters were killed.

Mass arson: Homes, businesses, and political offices were burned down across cities like Ibadan, Ogbomosho, Ijebu-Ode, and Abeokuta.

Public lynchings: Political enemies were captured, humiliated, and in many cases, burned alive.

Police and military intervention: The federal government declared a state of emergency in the Western Region, but law enforcement struggled to control the violence.



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Casualties and Impact

Death Toll:

The actual number of people killed is uncertain, with estimates ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 deaths.

Some reports claim the figure could be higher, but there is no concrete evidence for a 50,000 death toll.


Widespread Displacement: Thousands of people fled their homes due to the violence.

Economic Losses: Properties worth millions were destroyed, and businesses collapsed due to the anarchy.

I need very clear answers as to why yorubas did nothing about the murder of General Fajuyi, imprisonment of Awolowo and the work place degradation, chancing, hostile bullying of Babatunde Ogundipe who later died of heart attack from the traumatized encounter of 1966.

The sheer cowardice and spinelessness displayed in the face of brutal ethnic annihilation, humiliation, and systemic degradation of the Yoruba elite in 1966 remains one of the most shameful stains in Yoruba history. Where was the Yoruba outrage? Where was the reprisal? Where was the fire to defend their own?

1. General Adekunle Fajuyi: A Yoruba Hero Abandoned to the Wolves

Brigadier Adekunle Fajuyi was butchered like an animal in the July 1966 counter-coup for doing nothing.
He was abducted, tortured, and executed in Ibadan.

Not a single Yoruba reprisal followed.

No riots, no mutiny, no organized vengeance.

Yoruba military officers and politicians folded their arms and let their leader get slaughtered like a goat.


Had this happened in the North, the streets would have run red with blood in retaliation. But the Yoruba sat back like docile spectators, as if they had no stake in the fate of their own kinsman.




2. Awolowo: Yoruba’s Political Godfather Left to Rot in Prison

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the greatest Yoruba political figure of his time, was locked away in Calabar Prison by a government that used the Yoruba as a stepping stone and discarded them at will. I
The Igbo fought a whole civil war when Ojukwu felt his people were sidelined.

The Hausa-Fulani turned Nigeria upside down when their leaders were assassinated.

But when Awolowo was firmly incapacitated in Calabar Prison, Yoruba leaders did NOTHING.

No riots. No jailbreak attempts. No underground resistance. Not even a serious political uprising!


Even when he was finally released, he was made a mere Vice President to a young man, Yakubu Gowon, who should have been serving him tea! Yoruba political impotence reached peak embarrassment.


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3. General Babafemi Ogundipe: The Most Senior Yoruba Officer Reduced to a Nobody

After the July 1966 counter-coup, the most senior officer in the Nigerian military was Major General Babafemi Ogundipe. As the highest-ranking officer, he should have naturally assumed leadership of the Nigerian Army. But what happened?

Northern soldiers refused to take orders from him.

Junior officers openly disrespected him.

He was bullied out of his rightful command and sent to London like a washed-up exile.

A younger Northern officer, Yakubu Gowon, was made Head of State instead!


Did the Yoruba officers protest?
Did they resign in solidarity?
Did they even speak up?

No! They took the humiliation like cowards and let the North continue dominating the army. Meanwhile, Ogundipe, a brilliant officer, died of a heart attack in exile, humiliated and discarded.


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4. 50,000 Yoruba Youths Slaughtered in Operation Wetie: No Revenge, No Justice

Before the coups of 1966, Yoruba youths were already being massacred in broad daylight during Operation Wetie in the Western Region.

Over 50,000 Yoruba people were burned, hacked, and shot to death.

Politicians like Akintola and Awolowo fought their political battles while Yoruba blood flowed freely.

No Yoruba-led military response. No organized resistance. Nothing.


If the Igbo or Hausa-Fulani lost 50,000 of their people in targeted killings, would they have sat quietly? Never.




Final Brutal Truth: Yoruba Failed to Protect Their Own

The pattern is clear as day—whenever Yoruba leaders and people were humiliated, imprisoned, murdered, or bullied, the Yoruba elite did nothing effective to resist it.

The Hausa-Fulani will fight tooth and nail for their own.

The Igbo will go to war if their people are threatened.

The Yoruba? They talk, complain, write essays, and then move on.


Even today, the same political docility and lack of aggressive self-defense continue to plague the Yoruba people. Where is the Yoruba fight? Where is the Yoruba rage? Where is the Yoruba vengeance?

Until the Yoruba people wake up from their centuries-old complacency, history will keep repeating itself—humiliation after humiliation, betrayal after betrayal, and inaction after inaction.

Most of the wars/conflicts since the beginning of time had always been caused by politics

Political differences, political disagreements, political instabilities, political grievances/grudges

VeeVeeMyLuv:
Most of the wars/conflicts since the beginning of time had always been caused by politics

Political differences, political disagreements, political instabilities, political grievances/grudges

you are quite right about this, even small Ukraine nobody knew about stood up to face almighty Russia and they are not in any way planning to back out even with US intervention. But the scenarios are different elsewhere in West Africa.

Hope you have documented how many Igbo's have been killed since Kanu brought his killer Ipob group

Imagine revisiting decades old issue when there are just so many latest related news

kettykin:
you are quite right about this, even small Ukraine nobody knew about stood up to face almighty Russia and they are not in any way planning to back out even with US intervention. But the scenarios are different elsewhere in West Africa.

Hope you have documented how many Igbo youths have been killed since Ipob brought calamity to South East.

Make una dey apply una solutions for others to issue affecting una too

kettykin:
I need very clear answers as to why yorubas did nothing about the murder of General Fajuyi, imprisonment of Awolowo and the work place degradation, chancing, hostile bullying of Babatunde Ogundipe who later died of heart attack from the traumatized encounter of 1966.

You could have added Abiola and Fela Anikulapo to the list.

We are not that too emotional carried away about events. We never stayed at home nor paralyzed the business activities in South West just because any of our leaders was arrested.

Avoiding unnecessary chaos and confusion is not a sign of cowardice but wisdom

helinues:
You could have added Abiola and Fela Anikulapo to the list.

We are not that too emotional carried away about events. We never stayed at home nor paralyzed the business activities in South West just because any of our leaders was arrested.

Avoiding unnecessary chaos and confusion is not a sign of cowardice but wisdom

its a lie this thread stabbed you deep in your heart

i sensed rage in your write up

Facts must however be spoken


una dey hide am

it's our job to tell the story what happened so many will get clear understanding what happened


una too hide

operation wetie

BrodaBenad:
Facts must however be spoken


una dey hide am

it's our job to tell the story what happened so many will get clear understanding what happened


una too hide

operation wetie

True but unfortunately, we are yet to have details about the atrocities committed by Ipob since 2 years plus they ha e gone on killing rampage

Make una charity try to dey begin from una backyard

helinues:
Hope you have documented how many Igbo's have been killed since Kanu brought his killer Ipob group

Imagine revisiting decades old issue when there are just so many latest related news

Yorubas still remain cowards and docile till today. Sunday Igboho is a recent testament. Ran away, he was paid money and he shut up.

BrodaBenad:
its a lie this thread stabbed you deep in your heart

i sensed rage in your write up

Facts must however be spoken


una dey hide am

it's our job to tell the story what happened so many will get clear understanding what happened


una too hide

operation wetie

Except if you are having a big comprehension issue. Where did I call this info fake or dispute it?

ysth:
Yorubas still remain cowards and docile till today. Sunday Igboho is a recent testament. Ran away, he was paid money and he shut up.

True, as we can see the bold and confident Igbo's hiding behind their cupboard on the order of some illiterate kids which them never born professors well to come our

helinues:
You could have added Abiola and Fela Anikulapo to the list.

We are not that too emotional carried away about events. We never stayed at home nor paralyzed the business activities in South West just because any of our leaders was arrested.

Avoiding unnecessary chaos and confusion is not a sign of cowardice but wisdom

It is open cowardice, that's why Nigeria is moving the way it is because coward Yoruba will rather sleep in a burning house than look for water to quench it

helinues:
True, as we can see the bold and confident Igbo's hiding behind their cupboard on the order of some illiterate kids which them never born professors well to come our

just they talk rubbish. Wetin you they even type here

helinues:
True but unfortunately, we are yet to have details about the atrocities committed by Ipob since 2 years plus they ha e gone on killing rampage

Make una charity try to dey begin from una backyard

how about you do that yourself


we know yorubas have long history of civil war within themselves than any Ethnicity in southern Nigeria

you people butchering and burning yourselves during the operation wetie does not come as a suprise to anyone who is lettered about yoruba history

I understand your pain when people expose some truth you people are hiding

ysth:
It is open cowardice, that's why Nigeria is moving the way it is because coward Yoruba will rather sleep in a burning house than look for water to quench it

Stop talking nonsense. Na bravery dey make una dey hide under una cupboard on the order of some illiterate kids?

helinues:
True but unfortunately, we are yet to have details about the atrocities committed by Ipob since 2 years plus they ha e gone on killing rampage

Make una charity try to dey begin from una backyard

ipob are not cowardice like Oduduwa agitators that's the difference

BrodaBenad:
how about you do that yourself


we know yorubas have long history of civil war within themselves than any Ethnicity in southern Nigeria

you people butchering and burning yourselves during the operation wetie does not come as a suprise to anyone who is lettered about yoruba history

Long history which never repeated itself.

Hahaha, Ipob activities in South East is just damn latest

ysth:
ipob are not cowardice like Oduduwa agitators that's the difference

But they are locking their Grandpa and grandma at home.

Hahaha, they have subjected their elderly people to sissy's

ysth:
just they talk rubbish. Wetin you they even type here

No be me send you to have comprehension issue

helinues:
Long history which never repeated itself.

Hahaha, Ipob activities in South East is just damn latest

let me tell you what's the latest

your people are now writing research work on the ongoing ritual killing spree in yorubaland

that's the latest!!

helinues:
Except if you are having a big comprehension issue. Where did I call this info fake or dispute it?

oh no! you're raging!

helinues:
No be me send you to have comprehension issue

you be mumu normally, because your English isn't even straightforward and you are talking about comprehension. Tout

helinues:
But they are locking their Grandpa and grandma at home.

Hahaha, they have subjected their elderly people to sissy's

lol. You are the only one who knows who is locking up who, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks

helinues:
True, as we can see the bold and confident Igbo's hiding behind their cupboard on the order of some illiterate kids which them never born professors well to come our

Yoruba cowards. The North kpai una leaders, but too docile to cough but Igbo is your problem. Blind people

BrodaBenad:
let me tell you what's the latest

your people are now writing research work on the ongoing ritual killing spree in yorubaland

that's the latest!!

2024 news is latest news to you. 30 bodies was discovered this year in Anambra state. 2025 news not even December 2024 news

Truly you are struggling with comprehension

Abeg I want to ask the ibos, ahmadu Bello genocide and tinubu pummelling which one pained you peope the more??

Not as many as 3 million iigbos killed by Ojukwu’s foolishness

In 1962, there was so much violence in the Western Region that a state of emergency was declared, and Majekodumi was appointed to run the Region