The Asaba Massacre Of 1967

The Asaba Massacre Of 1967 

Written By Anthony Ogundipe

2 mins



A memorable and yet another historical event of Nigeria is the Asaba Massacre which occurred in October 1967 in Asaba, Delta, Nigeria. It was a tragic event that took place during the Nigerian civil war. The Nigerian soldiers, with instruction from the federal government, killed thousands of innocent civilians, mostly men and boys, in retaliation for the secessionist movement in the region. It was a devastating and heartbreaking event that left a lasting impact on the community.


THE ASABA MASSACRE,OCTOBER 7, 1967




In August 1967, three months into the biafra war, troops of the proclaimed Biafran invaded the Mid-western region, down to the Niger River. The troops moved as far as the western, down to Benin city, Edo state as far to Ore, in Ondo state, Nigeria. On this attack, there was a counter attack of the Nigerian army second division under the command of Col. Muritala Muhammed. 

The Nigerian military troops gained upper hand, they forced the Biafran soldiers back to the Niger river bridge, where they crossed the bridge back to the Proclaimed Biafra Republic. The Biafran blew up the eastern spans of the Niger River Bridge, with this the Nigerian troops will not be able to pursue them



The Nigerian Military entered Asaba on October 5 and began ransacking houses of killing civilians, claiming they were Biafran sympathies. It was recorded that several innocent Nigerians were killed. Leaders summoned town people in the morning of october 7 where they hoped to end the violence through a show of support for one Nigeria. Men and women in thousands wore ceremonial white cloths (akwa ocha) as they chant, sing and dance for a “One Nigeria”. As they got to Ogbe-Osowa village open square located  in Delta state Nigeria, the men and teenage boys separated from the women and younger children. 


The Nigerian Military troops launched their machine guns with an order from Maj. Ibrahim Taiwo who was the second-in-Command as they opened fire on these innocent people. Most of the killing stopped on the 7th October.The remains of the victims were retrieved by their family members and were buried at their various homes, some where given a mass burial without normal burial rites. The Nigerian military troops occupied Asaba for months, at this time, many properties were destroyed, several women and young girls were raped, some were forcefully married, while some fled away until the end of the war in 1970 January.


According to research, there was no exact record on the number of lost lives. In 1981, the Asaba development council submitted an incomplete  list recording the total number of 373 dead, or records estimated 759 men and boys were killed, some journalists added that about 700 died while other eyewitnesses noted that 500 and over 1000 deaths were recorded.

The Asaba massacre will always be historical and will be known as a traumatic event that destroyed lives, property and even the growthing economy of Nigeria.


Location: Europe

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