Today, We Mourn our Fallen Heroes During the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War

In 1966, Igbos lost over 50, 000 people and other Easterners within three weeks in Northern Nigeria, this lasted for months and the then Governor Eastern Nigeria Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu sought for diplomatic ways to end the gruesome dastardly pogrom. He sought for help from international communities, African Union and other international bodies. Eventually there was a reconciliatory meeting in Aburi Ghana – Aburi Accord by the then president of Ghana. Confederation agreement was reached in that meeting.

On returning to Nigeria and to the amazement of all, the then Nothern Nigeria chaired military government reneged the accord. The next year 1967, the brutality, killings and the pogrom continued and then on the advice of the then Eastern-Nigeria elderly council, Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra to protect his people from the dastardly wanton killings of the Igbos. Months passed, the Nigerian government declared war against Ndi Igbo and entire Eastern Nigeria between 1967-1970 and over 3.5 million Biafrans were murdered. The Easterners were at that time the most educated race in Africa with their abundant natural and human resources. Easterners were at the forefront of becoming the first developed African Nation.

Many opinions has it that different countries that participated in the genocide against the Easterners have various reasons for doing so. For instance, for Egypt and Arab Nations, it was a religious war to conquer and subjugate the Easterners into the Islamic Northern Nigeria. For Britain, USSR and US by proxy, it was an Economic War.

Emeka Ojukwu was the son of the first African billionaire and an Oxford trained young man and hence he was not ignorant of all the plots against Easterners. During the war, when the allies against Ndi Igbo saw that Igbos were tough to be croushed with military power, they then employed hunger and and starvation as weapon of war that led to the death of over 3.5 million Biafrans. At that point, it became a war of survival. Ojukwu couldn’t see his people continue to die, hence he instructed his second in command Philip Effiong to end the carnage.

After the painful 3 years, the then Nigerian government confiscated every asset of Ndi Igbo and gave us the meagre 20 pounds even if you have billions in your bank account as at that time. There were so much forces against Igbos then, though many foreign governments like French, Portugal, Denmark and other European governments tried so much to stop the aggression but the then British and the powerful USSR turned the whole effort to futility.

During that time a French diplomat once said “Before I visited Biafra, they said Biafrans fight like heroes, but when I came, i saw that heroes fight like Biafrans ” it was indeed a reflex action, A war of Survival.

From all indications, Igbos are special breed. After all that happened during and after the war, we picked up our pieces and moved on with the 20 pounds. Today Ndi Igbo is adjudged to have the highest Human Development Index (HDI) in Nigeria and in the entire Africa. The cities of Ndi Igbo that was maliciously ravaged completely during the war are better of than most cities in Nigeria, Most choice properties in Lagos and Abuja today are own by Ndi Igbo. Indeed we’re not like what we were made to be. To the Glory of Chukwu Okike Abiama.

Igbo investors and their businesses are the conundrum of all black african race today.

One of the most painful thing that happened during carnage against Ndi Igbo was the solemn and ultimate heroic sacrifice an American young boy paid that time. On may 30th 1969 in New York City in front of the then UN General Quarters, David Mayrock burned himself to death because of the mass genocide of Biafrans and then to compel the US government to cease their support in the genocide. May the soul of David Mayrock and all the Biafran fallen heroes rest in peace, Amen.

Today, 30th May, we remember all our fallen heroes. May their souls rest in peace, Amen.

Onwurah Chinonso Anthony (Equity Lawyer).