Memorial Monument

The Asaba Massacre occurred in early October 1967 during the Biafran war fought over the secession of Biafra. Though linguistically and ethnically Ibo, Asaba was never part of Biafran territory.

On the 4/5th Oct 1967, Federal Troops of the second division of the Nigerian Army entered Asaba. The Asaba people, wishing to show allegiance, came out to welcome them — but in the days that followed, a massacre of the male population occurred at Ogbeosowa Square.

The Federal Troops separated the women from the men and coldly assassinated them, burying them in shallow mass graves. It is estimated that over 1,000 men were killed. The killings had every aspect of a premeditated attempt at the extermination of the male population.

Till today no proper explanation has been provided by the Federal Government, neither has any official apology been offered for this humanitarian crime. It remains the only massacre of this magnitude to be treated with silence and impunity.

This new cenotaph is a belated attempt to salvage meaning out of a meaningless tragedy. We must teach our country that there may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.

This monument is therefore dedicated in honour and remembrance of a loss so grave and sad that time cannot diminish. Please contemplate their passing in respectful silence.