On this day in 1967, Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu (of blessed memory) faced with the state enabled mass killings of people of eastern origin declared the sovereign republic of Biafra.

A declaration which would lead to what is now known as the Nigerian civil war.

When we talk Biafra. People say it started with “the Igbo coup of 1966”. This is false. The Igbos and minorities of the South South have always been the scapegoats of governance in Nigeria since our colonization.

Nana of Itsekiri, Jaja of Opobo have one thing in common - standing up to the British and being exiled for it.

There are lesser known Chiefs who were either killed or exiled for the colonization of the South South and South East to be complete.

The SE and SS made their point clearly to the British. They will not be cowered into subservience as they were an independent minded people.

From Jaja’s rebellion to the Aba Women’s Riot and The Iva Valley Massacre, the SS and SE had made their point.

The British for administrative ease and also because North Nigeria was bankrupt, amalgamated (based on Lugard’s recommendation) two protectorates whose only business with each other was economical with entirely different political, socio-religious institutions...

This contrast in institutions is still prevalent in Nigeria today with the country operating two different criminal legal systems. The Criminal Code in Southern Nigeria and the Penal Code In Northern Nigeria.

The British well aware of the divide between the three regions that made up Nigeria (Northern, Western and Eastern regions) intensified regionalism as an alternative to political unification w the Richards Constitution of 1946

The country had already been divided along tribal lines way before 1960. A method of colonization called “divide and rule” applied by the British in India and then Nigeria

This thread isn’t entirely about politics but about how Igbos have been scapegoated in Nigeria so here goes

Jos, 1945: Hundreds of Igbos killed
Kano, 1953: Igbos killed

Why: In opposition to the Igbo vanguard role in the struggle for the restoration of Nigerian independence from British conquest.

May - October 1966: more than 30,000 Igbos were killed in Northern Nigeria.

October 66 - June 1967: more than 100,000 more Igbos killed.

In some cases pregnant women were killed, unborn babies pulled out of their wombs and murdered as well. Many of the victims were beheaded

Why: “retaliation” for a failed coup carried out by officers of the Nigerian army which was called an “Igbo coup” by Northern media and intelligentsia (see why Joe Abah’s faux neutrality is dangerous?) who urged Northerners to avenge the death of their slain leaders.

July 6, 1967 - January 15, 1970 : more than 3 million Biafrans were killed in Nigeria-Biafra war and many civilians died mainly from starvation as a result of the federal blockade spearheaded by Chief Awolowo.

Just going to keep this here https://twitter.com/thekelechiamadi/status/1259858611595096067?s=21 https://twitter.com/thekelechiamadi/status/1259858611595096067

Between 1993 and 1998 more Igbos were killed in Nigeria due to the botched June 12 elections. It was a Yoruba man involved but it was Igbos who were killed.

Make it make sense.

Between 8 June and 7 July, 1998 more Igbos were killed in Nigeria following the deaths of MKO Abiola and Abacha.

Igbos seeing this thread can ask their parents of what is now known as “Oso Abiola”

2002, Jos: Riots following an incident between a Christian Igbo and some Muslim Northerners led to the killings of hundreds of Igbos. It was in these riots that Nigerian footballer Victor Moses lost his parents.

Feb 16 - Dec 26, 2002: Hundreds of Igbos were killed in northern Nigeria.

Why: the implementation of Sharia law in the northern states of Nigeria. Among those killed were three Igbo Christian pastors including George Orji who was killed by beheading

November 2002: Hundreds of Igbos were killed again following riots in Northern Nigeria over the hosting of the Miss World beauty pageant in Abuja, the country’s capital.

April, 2011 following GEJ’s victory at the polls, riots broke out in Northern Nigeria which resulted in the deaths of Igbos in the region. A certain someone in the run up to that election said he would make the country ungovernable if he lost.

Honestly I could go on about how the Igbos are still being scapegoated and “punished” for the ‘66 coup and for losing the war. Instead, this thread highlights the pain Igbo families still live with 50 years after https://twitter.com/thekelechiamadi/status/1217390694152724481?s=21 https://twitter.com/thekelechiamadi/status/1217390694152724481