By Chinonso Alozie

Owerri – The Igbo Biafra Nationalists Movement, IBN, on Thursday alleged that over 2000 Biafrans were massacred in Asaba during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war.

The IBN spokesperson, Chukwunonso Edoziuno, disclosed this in a statement to newsmen in Owerri.

According to IBN, “On behalf of the Igbo-Biafra Nationalists Movement and the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-determination, we gather to pay solemn tribute to the valiant Biafra heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Biafra’s freedom. Their courage and unwavering commitment to the fight for justice and self-determination stand as a beacon of inspiration for us all.

“We also take this moment to remember and honor the over 2,000 Igbo-Biafra people who were tragically massacred in Asaba. These innocent souls, deceived and lured into a false sense of security, fell victim to a heinous betrayal. Their deaths underscore the profound injustice and brutality that our people have endured. In a dark episode of the Biafra Civil War, the Asaba Massacre stands out as a horrifying crime against the Igbo-Biafrans, committed by Nigerian Federal troops. This event occurred in Asaba, now part of Delta State, on October 7, 1967.”

The IBN alleged that; “The Federal troops entered Asaba around October 5, 1967, and immediately began ransacking homes and executing civilians, accusing them of being Biafran sympathizers. Reports indicate that several hundred innocent men were killed either individually or in groups at various locations across the town.

“In an attempt to stop the violence, Asaba leaders urged the townspeople to gather on the morning of October 7 to demonstrate their support for “One Nigeria.” Hundreds of residents, dressed in ceremonial white attire (akwa ocha), paraded along the main street, singing, dancing, and chanting “One Nigeria.”

“Upon reaching a junction, the crowd was split: men and teenage boys were separated from women and young children. The males were herded into an open square at Ogbe-Osowa village. There, Federal troops revealed machine guns, and under orders, reportedly from Second-in-Command one Maj. Ibrahim Taiwo, they opened fire. By the end of the day, most of the killing had ceased,” the group claimed.