Asaba massacre

The Asaba massacre occurred on 7 October 1967, during the Biafran Civil War in Nigeria. Federal troops of Nigeria entered Asaba, rounded up as many as 500 Igbo men of Asaba and shot them.^[1]

Mass graves

The victims were buried in mass graves. This is against Asaba tradition, especially since the men being buried included titled chiefs.^[2]

Oputa Commission

In 2001 a commission to investigate human rights violations in Nigeria was carried out. During the commission, Yakubu Gowon, who was the head of state of Nigeria from 1966–1975, apologized for the atrocities committed during the war, including the Asaba Massacre.^[3][4]

References

1. ^ Le Monde, 5 April 1968
2. ^ Sites of the mass graves were Otu-ogwu, Cable Point, St. Patrick's College, St. Bridget's, Ogbe‐eke, all areas in Asaba.
3. ^ Sufuyan Ojeifo and Lemmy Ughegbe, Vanguard (Nigeria), 2001.
4. ^ http://www.dawodu.com/barrack7.htm Alfred Obiora Uzokwe, Surviving Biafra, 2002