Asaba Massacre: 59 Years On, Calls Grow for a Presidential Apology

On October 7, 1967, during the Nigerian Civil War, federal troops entered Asaba in present-day Delta State and killed hundreds of unarmed civilian men and boys who had gathered to welcome them and pledge loyalty to Nigeria. The victims were accused of supporting Biafra before troops opened fire. The killings remain one of the most painful episodes of the civil war for many families in Asaba. Fifty-nine years later, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for forgiveness and reconciliation. However, the Asagba of Asaba says true closure will require a public apology from a sitting Nigerian president.

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