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Asaba Massacre: How Hundreds of Asaba People Were Killed In 1967

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Background

On the 27th of May, 1967, General Yakubu Gowon promulgated decree number 14 which created 12 states (six in the north and six in the south) out of the former four regions in Nigeria. Governor of the Eastern Region, Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, saw this creation of states (without consultation) as a breach of the 1967 Aburi Accord.

This rubbed salt to the political and ethnic wounds the country has been nursing long before independence. Following the creation of states, Col. Ojukwu considered the seven-point resolution of the Eastern Assembly and the Advising Committee of Chiefs and Elders which mandated him to declare the secession of the Eastern Region from the Federal Republic of Nigeria…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

 

Eventually, on the 30th of May, 1967, Col. Ojukwu declared the independent Republic of Biafra and this immediately set the stage for war, the Nigerian civil war.

Nigerian Troops In Asaba In 1967
Nigerian troops at Asaba in 1967

How The Asaba Massacre Happened

It was during the Nigerian civil war, also known as the Biafran war, that the Asaba massacre was perpetrated. This was from the 5th to 7th of October 1967.

In August 1967, two months before the Asaba massacre, a division of the seceded Eastern Region (Biafra) army led by Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Banjo occupied Benin in the Midwestern Region of Nigeria.

The Biafran army (also called Liberation Army) wanted to use Benin as a launching ground for the invasion of Ibadan and Lagos but unfortunately for them, the proposed invasion failed due to reasons connected to the newly promoted Lieutenant Banjo. Lieutenant Banjo wanted to secure Benin in good hands before proceeding to Ibadan so he would not be suddenly cut off from Biafra. (Ademoyega 1981)

Lieutenant victor banjo
Lieutenant Victor Banjo

Banjo’s failure gave the Federal (Nigerian) troops an opportunity to recapture Benin and drive Biafran army out. They chased the Biafran army into Asaba and then into Onitsha. After the Biafran army crossed into Onitsha, they blew up a part of the Onitsha bridge making it impossible for the Federal troops to continue the chase. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

It was at this point that the people of Asaba met their ill fate. The Nigerian army second division led by Col. Murtala Muhammed turned back to Asaba and killed many people, ransacked their houses and perpetrated other war crimes on the claim that the victims were Biafran sympathizers. This happened on the 5th of October, 1967.

Asaba Massacre of 1967
Map showing the movement of the Nigerian and Biafran troops

Knowing things could go worse, on the 7th of October, two days after the federal troops arrived in Asaba, the people of Asaba organized a dance to show their support for One Nigeria. Men and women, boys and girls all danced in their Akwa Ocha (white) attire and repeatedly showed the intention of the dance.

Unfortunately, the federal troops turned the dance into a bloody one. They separated men from women and killed the men. Many sources have it that the troops led by Col. Murtala Muhammed and Col. Ibrahim Taiwo oversaw the aspect of adult male killings.

Asaba Massacre of 1967
Mural depicting the Asaba massacre. October 7, 1967 | Cheta Nwanze

Asaba stank with blood and dead bodies which were later pilled up and buried in a mass grave. None of the dead could be given a proper burial with necessary funeral rites. Up to 1000 people lost their lives in the Asaba massacre. A source claimed that younger girls were raped and the recalcitrant ones were shot dead.

A video which documented the Asaba Massacre of 1967 showed one of the lucky survivors, Patience Chukwura who was then a young mother pregnant with her fourth child as she narrated how her husband, Eddie, was killed. Her father-in-law and two brothers-in-law were also murdered in cold blood.

Many citizens of Asaba fled their homes and did not return until the Nigerian civil war ended in 1970. Below is a video documenting the Asaba massacre by S. Elizabeth Bird and Fraser Ottanelli in 2013. In this video, witnesses of the Asaba massacre recounted their horrible experiences and losses.

 

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METRO

Woman Yells At Boy For Selling Candy Outside Target, Stranger Steps In To Defend Him

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You’ve probably been to a store when kids are selling candy outside to earn money for a special cause.

A brother and sister were outside a Target in a small community in California when they received an unexpected surprise.

Andy was a customer at the time who saw the interaction take place and posted the details on social media.

An older woman started yelling at the children when she saw them selling candy outside the store.

The older woman demanded to know where the license to sell candy was and why the children were standing outside the store trying to get money from people…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

The brother gently explained that he was trying to make money with his sister.

As the conversation continued, the older woman told the children that police officers would be there soon and that they would be arrested. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

The boy soon started crying because he couldn’t handle the yelling any longer.

Jay Lopez had been watching and approached the brother and sister. The man told the children that he would buy all of the candy that they were selling.

He then told the older woman that he would give it to the customers who were there and that she should be ashamed of how she was treating children.

Andy saw that there are still people in the world capable of doing good deeds.

 

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Mother Gives Birth To Twin Girls, Doctor Tells Her “I’m Sorry For You”

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Nicola and Todd Bailey, a British couple from Sheffield, had a cozy life with their four-year-old son, Lucas. However, a deep-seated desire to expand their family was always on their minds.

Nicola, who worked part-time as a nurse at a community health center, and Todd, an experienced real estate agent, were financially secure and eager to bring more children into their world.

One summer evening, sitting on their porch, Nicola and Todd found themselves discussing their future. Their conversation centered on Lucas, their beloved son, and the possibility of him having siblings.

Nicola had been an only child herself and understood the occasional loneliness that came with it. She didn’t want Lucas to grow up alone, and so the idea of having more children resonated strongly with her…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

Their hearts full of love for Lucas and a desire to see him enjoy the unique bond of having siblings, they decided to expand their family. Todd enthusiastically expressed his desire to build a larger family with Nicola, who he adored deeply.

The couple spent the rest of that night dreaming about their future children and how they would play together in their garden. Little did they know their dreams would soon become a reality.

The Baileys didn’t have to wait long for their lives to be filled with joy. A mere five months after that heartfelt conversation, Nicola had a dizzying moment. She collapsed to the floor and was immediately rushed to the hospital. While Todd was initially concerned, they quickly discovered the cause of her dizziness – she was pregnant.

Ecstatic, they returned home and immediately shared the joyful news with Lucas. He was thrilled to learn that he would soon be a big brother.

The prospect of having a sibling filled him with excitement, and he bombarded his parents with questions about his unborn sibling. The family was enveloped in happiness, their hearts full of anticipation for the new addition.

However, their journey was not without its challenges. During her pregnancy, Nicola started to feel unwell. She became incredibly fatigued, experienced frequent dizziness, and her body felt unusually heavy.

As a nurse, she recognized that something was amiss and insisted that Todd take her to the hospital. This decision likely saved their unborn daughters’ lives. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

After a series of tests at the hospital, Nicola received unexpected news – she was pregnant with twins. The couple was overjoyed and promptly made the announcement to their son, Lucas. They explained that they were going to have twin sisters and received an enthusiastic response. Lucas was delighted by the thought of becoming a big brother to not one but two siblings.

Nicola’s pregnancy, however, became fraught with challenges. She had to be placed on bed rest, a tough task for someone as active as she was. The safety of both the mother and her twin daughters was of paramount concern, and the doctors ensured that she was in good hands.

Through her prenatal care, the Baileys learned the gender of their twins. They were to have two baby girls, and Nicola immediately knew what she wanted to name them – Harper and Quinn. Their hearts swelled with excitement as they envisioned the future of their family with their two daughters.

However, the story took an unexpected turn 38 minutes after Harper’s birth. The doctor returned to Nicola’s room with a solemn expression and revealed that Harper had Down syndrome, a genetic disorder. Nicola and Todd hadn’t known that their daughter had Down syndrome during the pregnancy, and this news was a revelation.

Though this revelation could have dampened their spirits, Nicola, a nurse with experience in caring for children with Down syndrome, welcomed it with open arms. Her knowledge and experience provided a unique perspective.

She knew that Harper would be unique in her own way and understood that Down syndrome would not limit her daughter’s potential or happiness. The couple decided to raise their daughters equally, ensuring Harper would receive the support she needed to thrive.

Despite the unexpected news, their love for Harper remained unconditional. Her condition didn’t change the way they saw her. Nicola and Todd went on to create an Instagram account to share their family’s journey. It became a platform for Nicola to raise awareness about Down syndrome, dispel societal prejudices, and, most importantly, share the joy of their growing family.

As they journeyed forward, the family embraced the uniqueness of their situation. Their story is a testament to the power of love and acceptance. Harper, Quinn, and Lucas are indeed a unique and loving family, demonstrating that love knows no genetic boundaries.

Nicola and Todd wouldn’t change their family for the world. They are proud of their unique and beautiful family, which has redefined their understanding of love and acceptance.

 

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Homeless Man Begs For Scrap Food Only To Have Chick-fil-A Manager Say “No” And Take Action

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Chick-fil-A is known for caring about the community wherever the restaurant is located.

Many of the managers hold fundraisers for organizations and people who are in need as well as those who are sick or who have lost family members and need a helping hand.

Meeting someone who is homeless often strikes a nerve to do something to try to help for many people. There are also those who tend to avoid helping the homeless.

One man stumbled into a Chick-fil-A in Tennessee, possibly looking for something to drink or just to get away from being outside for just a few moments.

The manager decided to do something a little special for the man.

When the homeless man entered the restaurant, he wanted to try to get a few scraps that would otherwise be thrown away…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

He wasn’t asking for money and didn’t ask the customers for any kind of assistance.

When he left the restaurant, he had a huge smile on his face because of the actions of the manager.

While the interaction was taking place, a father and his daughter were enjoying a meal at a nearby table. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

The father made a social media post about the story so that others might be able to see how the homeless are treated and how simple actions can make a difference.

The daughter decided to trade the toy from her meal for ice cream.

As they waited for a few minutes for her ice cream to be prepared, they saw the exchange between the manager and the homeless man.

The man was wearing muddy shoes and looked tired. Most of the people in the restaurant tried to stay away from him.

Soon after the man entered the building, the manager talked to him and explained that he wanted to help. He was given a full meal instead of the scraps that he wanted.

The manager also prayed with the homeless man, touching his shoulder so that he would feel as though someone cared.

For some managers, they could have sent the man away, but this manager made a difference if only for a few moments in time.

 

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