The Asaba massacre was a watershed moment in the Nigerian Civil War and in the history of modern day Nigeria. On 5th of October 1967, Federal troops entered Asaba and began ransacking houses and killing civilians. Over a period of 3 days more than a thousand people lost their lives. Asaba was left in ruins and the survivors traumatised. Many women were raped and others killed. The anguish and trauma felt by those families who endured this most egregious of crimes was passed down to successive generations. Many Asaba indigenes have spent a life time trying to seek justice for the victims of that massacre especially since the facts and truth of what happened was largely suppressed. It is fair to say that the Asaba massacre was the single worst atrocity of the civil war. Eventually, a Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission –popularly known as the Oputa Panel was set up in 1999 to look into several human rights abuses including the Asaba massacre, Chuck Nduka-Eze a Barrister of distinction took up the gauntlet and presented the case of the victims of the Asaba massacre before the panel showing that even in death the spirit of his revered father Nduka Eze the inspirational father of leftist nationalism remained alive in him.
Chuck Nduka-Eze who is now the Isama of Asaba has been unrelenting in his quest to obtain justice for the victims of this gruesome crime of the Nigerian Civil War and to his everlasting credit has set up the Asaba Massacre Memorial Monument. This memorial project marks a significant new chapter for the families and victims of the Asaba Massacre in that the survivors and victims’ will forever be remembered and honoured in very much the same way as the Jews who were the victims of the 2nd World War Holocaust. In many respects, it is always a matter of social justice to remember the dead in the context of this sort of massacre and further honour their memory. It is indeed a worthwhile project and a step in the right direction for the survivors and families of the victims. Whatever the next few years may hold, (and I have no doubt that there is more to come) make no mistake that this is just the beginning and this generation unlike the last seem far more prepared for whatever challenges they may face.
To the indigenes of Asaba I simply say keep the faith and “May the force be with you”.
Stephen Kola-Balogun
Legal Practitioner,
Lagos.
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