Yesterday, the people of Asaba solemnly remembered the tragic events of October 7, 1967, as the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty Prof. Epiphany Azinge, renewed calls for a sitting President of Nigeria to issue a formal apology for the massacre that claimed hundreds of lives during the Nigerian Civil War.
Leading thousands of residents in the ceremony, the monarch observed a minute of silence at exactly 12 noon, describing the victims as “true martyrs whose blood nourished the land and fueled the city’s growth and prosperity.”
Reflecting on the town’s progress, Azinge said, “What was once a quiet settlement along the River Niger has grown into one of the fastest-expanding capital cities in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa.”
The 1967 Asaba massacre occurred when federal troops entered the town under suspicion of Biafran allegiance.
Men and boys were separated from women and children and executed en masse, with casualty estimates ranging from 373 to over 1,000, leaving enduring scars on the community.
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In addition to calling for an apology, the Asagba proposed the establishment of a federal university in Asaba to honor the victims and support the town’s development.
The ceremony also featured a 21-gun salute, cementing October 7 as a significant date in Asaba’s cultural and historical calendar.
The community remains committed to pursuing recognition, justice, and reconciliation, urging the federal government to formally acknowledge the atrocities and assist in the healing process for survivors and descendants.