COMPARING THE HOLOCAUST IN GERMANY, GENOCIDE IN RWANDA AND THE ASABA MASSACRE OF 7TH OCTOBER 1967!

AN ATTEMPT TO WIPE OUT A DEFENCELESS COMMUNITY BY SHOW OF MILITARY MIGHT??

Patrick Chiwete

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?