Civil War: Asaba massacre was one of Nigeria’s darkest chapters, says Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the 1967 Asaba massacre as one of the most painful and terrible episodes of the Nigerian civil war.

Obasanjo spoke virtually on Wednesday as chairman of the 59th anniversary memorial of the massacre held in Asaba, Delta State.

The former military ruler said the civil war itself was an unfortunate event that should never have occurred, but singled out the Asaba killings as one of its darkest episodes.

“This marks the remembrance of one very sad aspect of the Nigerian civil war. Of course, the war in its entirety was an unfortunate event which should never happen,” he said.

“But the Asaba Massacre, as it is called, was one of the most painful, one of the most terrible aspects of that war.”

Obasanjo said he was moved to tears after receiving documents on the massacre from Chuks Nduka-Eze, convener of the Asaba Massacre Memorial.

He said the accounts saddened him because the killings happened in Nigeria during his lifetime.

The former president urged survivors and families of victims to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation despite the pain caused by the tragedy.

“To all of you assembled: let us keep one thing in mind — forgiveness, forgiveness, and forgiveness again,” he said.