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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

Surgeons were left stunned and ‘screamed in disbelief by what they found in drunk man’s stomach’! –

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We need to be careful in what we eat and not only physically, but also spiritually and psychologically. If we eat healthy food physically, we will have a proper growth and development, and our body will be supplied with good ingredients for its normal functioning.

But, we also need to be careful what we insert into our bodies. Sometimes people accidentally swallow something they shouldn’t. This was not the case with this drunk man.

Per reports, the surgeons were stunned when they needed to remove a steel cup from a man’s stomach, which they believe was initially inserted into his ‘behind…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

An unnamed man was reporting stomach pains for several days and no treatment seemed to work, despite seeing multiple doctors, according to The Post. He then saw Dr. Lal, who did an X-ray and discovered the cup inside him. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

The man was then rushed to surgery where surgeons successfully removed a cup the size of a hand from what appears to be an incision in his stomach.

According to The Post, video shows the procedure which begins with one doctor cleaning the stomach area before carefully removing the silver cup with the bottom of the object facing up. Medical staff appears to be in disbelief as the surgeon holds up the tumbler for the camera.

The man, who works as a laborer, has recovered well, according to reports. The medical professionals have hypothesized that the cup reached his stomach after being inserted up the man’s ‘behind’. Doctors said the man got extremely drunk with three strangers after returning from a grocery store, where he had gone to get vegetables. By the time he sobered up, the unknown people were not present, and doctors aren’t sure if the man shoved the cup up his rectum himself or if he was assaulted.

 

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3-Year-Old Girl Drowns In Shocking Accident Outside Of Ice Cream Store. Suddenly, Her Mother Remembers Her Blanket –

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The love of a child is priceless, so when that child passes away, it is a very devastating thing to intake. It is hard on the parents as well as the family. However, the love and joy for that child never goes away and they live forever through memories of happiness.

Three-year-old Sadie Grace Andrews is will forever be remember and honored after she was killed accidentally while outside of an ice cream parlor.

In Auburn, Alabama, Sadie was outside playing with her other siblings when by accident she ended up slipping into a grease trap and drowned.

Now she is being honored and remembered for her remarkable love Of God and the ones she cared for the most…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

“She had more faith than any child I’ve ever seen,” Sadie’s mother, Corrie Andrews, told AL.com. “And I’m not just saying that because she was my child.”

“We know without a shadow of a doubt, our baby is with Jesus,” Corrie added.

Corrie says that her daughter’s name means, “God’s Thoughtful Princess,” and that is exactly what Sadie was. She was the perfect princess, the best reflect of what her name embodies.

“And she really was that—always expressing gratefulness and love for God and other people. She would light up a room with her smile; she walked with a skip in her step. I’ve never met a more joyful child who loved God with all her heart.”

Sadie’s father, Tracy Andrews, said that he’s happy, appreciative and grateful for the three years that he along with their family got with spend with their precious Sadie, and reflected on the many lessons his daughter was able to teach him about life and love.

“She taught me about being happy and loving life and loving people,” Tracy said. “At 3 years old, there’s no preconceived notions. To her, everybody was good. She didn’t see the bad. She just loved people and it didn’t matter what they did.”

Lance and Kara Latham are the owners of Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, the shop where Sadie tragically drowned on Saturday. They released a Facebook statement on Sunday, extending their deepest condolences for the family’s loss. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

“As the owner of the Auburn Bruster’s, our deepest condolences go to the family of the child who tragically died Saturday. They are acquaintances of ours and have been regular customers. We are truly heartbroken that this happened. Our thoughts also are with our young crewmember who tried to revive the child. Like all of us, he is quite shaken. The entire Bruster’s family is horribly saddened by this tragic accident.”

They encouraged others in the community to continue praying for the Andrews family.

Sadie’s uncle, Chad Vermillion, also organized a YouCaring campaign on the family’s behalf.

“The body of Christ is powerful when we act together and if we can help alleviate their burden let’s do so,” Vermillion wrote in the fundraiser’s description. “Above all else, please pray for my dear sister Corrie and brother-in-law Tracy. The pain is insurmountable right now.”

Corrie says God used Sadie the morning that she died, to prepare the mother of six for the grief that lay ahead.

Sadie was attached to a blanket from her grandmother, that she slept with every single night. On Saturday morning though, Sadie put the blanket in a bag and told her mom that she no longer needed it, and wanted to give it away.

“Looking back, it’s as if she knew she wouldn’t need it anymore.”

One thing is certain, Sadie Grace brought more joy to this world in her three short years than many of us can fathom in our entire lifetime. She exuded the love of Jesus, and her family takes comfort in knowing that she is Home with Him now.

Praying for peace that surpasses all understanding, and healing for every single person whose life was touched by this beautiful little angel.

 

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METRO

She Didn’t Want to Pay for a Divorce. So She Shot Her Husband in His Sleep and the unexpected took place –

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Melanie Biggins, a 42-year-old woman from Missouri, found herself in a situation that ended in tragedy. She was married to Ettienne L. McEwan for nine years, but their relationship had been struggling. For the last year and a half of their marriage, Melanie had been having an affair. She wanted to leave her husband, but she felt trapped because she didn’t have the money to file for a divorce. Instead of finding another way out, she made a terrible decision that changed everything.

On August 31, 2022, Melanie called 911 in the early hours of the morning. She told the police that an intruder had broken into their home and shot her husband while they were both asleep in bed. When the police arrived, they found Melanie trying to save her husband by performing CPR. She claimed that she had woken up to the sound of a gunshot and saw her husband had been shot under his chin. She said she ran downstairs and saw the front door open but didn’t see anyone…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

At first, the police believed her story, but things didn’t add up. Melanie initially told them that the only gun in the house was her husband’s rifle. However, as the investigation continued, she admitted that she had bought a handgun from a pawn shop. The police also found a pillow and blanket with bullet holes on the floor, and they discovered a .38 Special handgun hidden under a bunk bed in another room. These clues made it clear that Melanie’s story about an intruder wasn’t true. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Eventually, Melanie broke down and confessed. She admitted that she had shot her husband. She explained that she had been unhappy in their marriage and wanted to end it but felt she couldn’t afford a divorce. In a moment of desperation, she made the tragic choice to kill him instead.

Melanie was originally charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action, which could have led to a life sentence. However, she made a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. Because of this plea deal, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison instead of facing a much harsher punishment.

 

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