Sons and daughters of Asaba, on Tuesday, turned out in their numbers to honor their own who were gathered and killed by the Nigerian troop between October 4 and October 7, 1967, during the Nigerian Civil War.
The solemn event took place at the Ogwa Ukwu Ahaba, where a minute’s silence was observed for the fallen heroes, while the Delta State House of Assembly also did the same at Tuesday’s plenary.
In his memorial address, the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, said the genocide was a tragedy that affected and shook the entire community to its roots, hence the memoriam as a mark of respect to the victims of the dastardly act.
The Monarch said the 58-year old massacre affected the community in different ways, explaining that anyone orphaned, or who lost the father at a tender age would certainly not enjoy the same attention like a child raised by both parents, while the life of a widow left behind to cater for her children would never be the same as when her husband was alive.
That, the Asagba remarked, was the situation in Asaba after the mass killing, which deeply affected the psychology of the people and left the town in disarray, but expressed delight that from the ashes of the massacre Asaba people emerged stronger, became resilient and resolute that it would never put the community down.
“Our people were prepared to weather the storm and we did. Today, most of the orphans or those raised by single parents have all become successful men and women in their fields of endeavor. That shows that we are determined people. But we must also reflect on the fact that the blood of these “martyrs” watered our land because no one talked about ‘Asaba Amaka’ before 1967.
“Why did I say so? It was after 1967 that things started going well for our people. Asaba started progressing. The once rustic sleepy town by the banks of the Niger has suddenly metamorphosed to the fastest growing state capital, not just in Nigeria but also in Africa, south of the Sahara.
“So, we can talk about some positive effects of the massacre of our sons and daughters 58 years ago. It’s not all negative as such. We can never conjecture or project what would have become of Asaba without that incident. But sincerely speaking, they deserve to be remembered from the going down of the sun till the morning, as the martyrs that we can identify with, and as forebears that we can relate to.
“Some of us were not privileged to know our grandfathers and great-grandfathers, we were only told about them. But as we pour libations, the people that come to mind are the massacre victims. They are the closest ancestors that we can identify with and relate to. So, as we pour libations we invoke their spirits as now ancestors in their own rights, to continue to look up to this land, to continue to strengthen this land, to grant us the peace, and to help us to progress as a people in unity and strength”, Nna Agu said.
Asagba Prof Azinge spoke on how far the community had gone to preach the message and still pushing, even as he stressed that when people thought it was impossible, the matter was presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with courage and boldness, on the 20th of March, 2025.
“That’s the boldness in a typical Asaba son who considers that this particular incident is not one that we can gloss over. No, we cannot. We’re prepared to take this matter to wherever we can take it to going forward”, the fiery Monarch insisted.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Chairman of the Asaba Memorial Monument Group and Isama Ajie Ahaba, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze; said the event was part of measures to take the awareness of the massacre to the desired height by putting it in the Asaba traditional calendar, as was the case with the October 7 Asaba Day.
Chief Nduka-Eze noted that despite the passionate way the Asagba presented the issue of Asaba massacre to President Tinubu when they visited him on 20th March, the President did not respond properly to it, which he observed did not mean that he was not thinking about it.
He said with all that had subsequently been done by his group in Asaba and Nigeria at large, the President must have learned more about the massacre. ” So, we have taken a good step today. The state government, through the House of Assembly, has registered the significance of 7th October by what was done today.
“We will also carry on with the project to the National Assembly through our son in the House of Reps, Rt. Hon Ngozi Okolie and Senator Ned Nwoko. Also in that regard, Senator Nwoko called to tell me that an opportunity will be provided for us to come and do a proper presentation to the Senate Committee on Reparations. They want to hear about this matter so that they can prepare a proper report to the President for attention.
“All these point to the active participation and encouragement His Royal Majesty has brought to this issue. I’m sure you can all recall with pride, that his first outing as the Asagba of Asaba was the attendance of last year’s edition of this memorial, and he has continued on that path”, the Memorial Monument Group Chairman said.
Chief Nduka-Eze revealed that a film documentary on the massacre had been produced and would be premiered in London later in the month.
He thanked the people of Asaba for their large turn out for the event, which he expressed optimism would be sustained by the younger generation, stressing that the massacre was not being remembered with anger nor aggression, but because that was the best the living could do for the dead.
The highlights of the memorial were a 21-gun salute at the Ogwa Ukwu and the reading of the documented names of the victims from the five quarters of Umuezei, Ugbomanta, Umuagu, Umuaji and Umuonaje.
New Hands on Deck as Delta Targets Durable Roads under Oborevwori