Asaba Rebuilds From 1967 Massacre, Seeks Apology & New Memorial — Asagba
By PAULINA NZERUBE
Asaba Rebuilds From 1967 Tragedy
THE Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, says Asaba has moved beyond the trauma of the 1967 massacre.
He said the community has emerged stronger, more united and more developed despite the killing of more than 1,000 indigenes during the Nigerian Civil War.
Azinge spoke on Friday when an Asaba-based non-indigenous artist and sculptor, Enyi Echezona, visited him to present a proposal for a large monument to commemorate the victims.
Monarch Welcomes Monument Proposal
The Asagba welcomed the initiative.
He said Asaba should continue to preserve the memory of those who died.
He noted that the community already has a monument at Ogbeosowe, close to the site associated with the massacre.
However, he said the community was considering a more elaborate memorial.
Azinge said Echezona’s proposed monument could complement the existing memorial rather than replace it.
He also urged the artist to rethink the symbolism of the sculpture.
According to him, the current design could be interpreted as representing political defiance.
He stressed that such symbolism does not reflect the message Asaba wants to convey.
From Massacre to Resilience
Azinge said the tragedy left a deep social and economic burden on the community.
He particularly praised Asaba women who became breadwinners after losing their husbands.
Many raised their children alone and ensured they received education.
Some of those children later became parents, grandparents and professionals.
The monarch described their resilience as one of the enduring lessons from the tragedy.
He said the community had transformed that painful history into a source of strength.
Asaba’s Growth After the Tragedy
Azinge also pointed to Asaba’s transformation over the decades.
He noted that the city has served as the capital of Delta State for 35 years.
He said its population, infrastructure and economic activity have expanded rapidly.
He described Asaba as one of the fastest-growing state capitals in Nigeria and Africa south of the Sahara.
For the monarch, the transformation demonstrates the community’s ability to rebuild after devastating loss.
But development, he suggested, should not erase historical memory.
Call for Restitution & Recognition
Azinge said the community’s demands go beyond financial restitution.
He said Asaba also wants an official apology for the massacre.
He added that the community would welcome the establishment of a federal university in Asaba.
He said such measures could form part of a broader process of recognition and reconciliation.
The monarch stressed that preserving the memory of the victims remains important.
A Monument Designed for Future Generations
Echezona said his interest in the project developed from reading about the massacre.
Although he was not born when the killings occurred, he said the historical accounts deeply affected him.
He therefore decided to create a permanent memorial.
His proposed structure would stand about 45 feet tall.
It would include a lighthouse, a mini-gallery and a mini-museum.
The names of those killed would also be displayed.
The project is intended to provide visitors with a place to learn about the tragedy and its human cost.
Azinge asked the sculptor to modify the design before the community considers formally approving it.
He said the proposed memorial could eventually stand alongside existing efforts to preserve the memory of the 1967 massacre.
