AN
ATTEMPT TO WIPE OUT A DEFENCELESS COMMUNITY BY SHOW OF MILITARY MIGHT??
A
Wikipedia definition of this very horrible word called Holocaust is; “…the
systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million
Jews by the Nazi regime and it’s collaborators”…which tentatively led to the
2nd World War with the eventual formation of the United nation!
Thus,
nations came together or became united across the globe in order to prevent the
nonoccurrence of such evil deeds! Nevertheless, the same “United nations” went
to deep slumber as millions of Tutsi, (a particular tribe in East Africa) were
slaughtered in what was generally described as the Rwanda Genocide; “the
intentional action to destroy a people (usually defined as an ethnic, national,
racial or religious group) in whole or part”... as historically documented.
Now
the massacre of defenseless civilians comprising youths of ages between
12-18years, in Asaba, on 7th October 1967, has remained undocumented, nay
conveniently forgotten in our history as a nation.
It was a day indigenes of Asaba were called
out to celebrate “ONE NIGERIA” during the Nigeria/Biafra war, but it turned out
to be a dance of death!
In
retrospect, it could be an attempt to completely wipe out the entire Asaba
community based on the extent and manner of the wanton destruction as embarked
upon by the marauding Nigeria Soldiers.
An
extract from the Wikipedia account of the pogrom summarizes it thus; “Leaders
summoned the townspeople to assemble on the morning of October 7, hoping to end
the violence through a show of support for "One Nigeria." Hundreds of
men, women, and children, many wearing the ceremonial akwa ocha (white) attire
paraded along the main street, singing, dancing, and chanting "One
Nigeria."
At
a junction, men and teenage boys were separated from women and young children,
and gathered in an open square at Ogbe-Osowa village. Federal troops revealed
machine guns, and orders were given by Maj. Ibrahim Taiwo to open fire.
It
is estimated that more than 700 men and boys were killed, some as young as 12
years old, in addition to many more killed in the preceding days”. What are the
spirits of the over 700 men and boys that were lynched/slaughtered saying to us
today, specifically on the 7th October 2016, 49years after?
Some
people in their myopic logic or wisdom have argued almost convincingly that
this massacre in Asaba, about 49years ago should be forgotten, put behind us
and ndi Ahaba should just move ahead! Of course, life is all about moving on
and such argument will make loads of sense to persons who are not casulties of
the massacre.
It
will be logical to an outsider that never experienced the pains of losing a
loved one in any unjustified conflict, especially where the majority of the
victims were unarmed little kids.
Tell
me, what about the other casualties of this massacre that grew up single
parented having lost their fathers in the event of this crooked genocide
thereby forcing a loving wife into the dark shadow of becoming a widow?
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