Okigwe Crisis: A repeating history of the Zaki Biam massacre?

 

It’s over 22 years since the Zaki Biam massacre, (also known as The Zaki-Biam Invasion or Operation No Living Thing) Which saw the mass execution of hundreds of unarmed Tiv civilians by the Nigerian Army between 20 – 24 October 2001.

 The incident left sad prints on the community which its citizens and indigenes won`t ever forget as it comes with sad tales of the loss of life and property.

Economic and infrastructural development are still gradually taking place in these communities as the effect of the execution lingers.

The massacre was a surreptitious operation of the Nigerian army to avenge the killing of 19 soldiers, whose mutilated bodies were found on 12 October 2001, near some Tiv villages in Benue State. 

However, history is repeating itself after 22 years, as OKIGWE one of the major geo-politically zones in Imo state is reportedly under siege by the Nigerian army.

Okigwe is one of the 27 local governments in Imo state with agro-inclined indigenes, known for peaceful coexistence with its neighboring town Uturu Abia state.

Sadly, the community has turned into a den of mourning as blood flows and the cry of agony emanates from people in that area recently.

One Mr. Onu who hails from the Ihube autonomous community of Okigwe speaking on the killing of his cousin by the Nigerian army said,

“I am from Okigwe, Ihube precisely and was planning on going to the village to celebrate the Christmas season as I usually do, only to get a call from my uncle in the village that one of my cousins has been killed by the military as they have ambushed and taken over our community, I am bereaved and can`t even travel home to mourn the death of my brother”

However, the bone of contention which lead to this act by the military is as a result of the abduction of a female military officer who came to spend Yuletide with her people.

According to reports gathered, PP JOHNSON who is a Nigerian soldier came back to her village to spend some time with her family and was abducted and has never been seen.

The military making moves to rescue her, hoping she is still alive resorted to the killing of innocent civilians in the locality.

An indigene of Ihube  Okigwe who is based in Owerri reporting on the incident wrote,

“Your Excellency Hope Uzodimma What are you doing about the siege on Ihube by the Military? Why is this type of gallantry seen only in Imo State? We have no new year pictures from Ihube as you had from Omuma Sir, is this how you want to be remembered? Is there nothing you can do as the Chief Security Officer of the State?

“Onwa, kulie na ibu dike, this is not beyond you. Call for a ceasefire, Kulie Sir, you swore to protect these people, Ihube people crossed over into the new year from bushes and make shift IDP Camps, peaceful Ihube people in IDP Camps? Kai, Onwa is this how we should remember you? Even sick people were wheeled away into nearby forests. My elder sister is on her way to Owerri after trekking miles in the bush even with her health condition; over 70 years old great-grandmother 😭😭😭.

“Ihube Bleeds... Your Excellency, How are we supposed to respond to your Happy New Year greetings, it's not Happy here in Ihube. The people are displaced with their homes and businesses burnt to ashes”

“Ihube bleeds... Because we failed to tackle insecurity, calling it Political, civilians have lost their lives and nobody winked, the government and everyone looked the other way, now the military is affected and the entire village is left to bear the brunt of what they suffered from.”

In other words, this incident happening in Okigwe now has brought back memories of what the people of Zaki Biam went through 22 years again.

A Nigerian-born, South African based Tech genius Charles Awuzie has this to say, concerning the incident;

“What is happening in Okigwe is complex and complicated - because Okigwe has always been a complex society despite being a very small town. Fraudsters, Cultists, Ritualists, etc infiltrated that small city - I know because I lived there for almost 10 years. I also pastored a church in Okigwe before I left”

“I have spoken to the family of the kidnapped Lt PP Johnson tonight - she is still nowhere to be found. I wept because I know that whatever happens in Okigwe hardly ends well. The blood in Okigwe will continue to cry out for more blood if nothing is done by the government to arrest the matter from the root, Okigwe, my Okigwe. How has thou fallen, My name is Charles Awuzie and my story can never be complete without Okigwe which unfortunately is under siege”

Iriaka Blessing

Sources:

 Facebook Charles Awuzie, John Okoye