The people of Ogu in Ogu/Bolo LGA of Rivers State have expressed sadness over the evacuation and killing of their indigenes by the Biafran soldiers during the civil war.
In a chat with journalists during the Ogu National Day celebration, His Royal Highness Nicholas D. Ibiebele Nimenibo Loko IX the Amanyanabo of Ogu disclosed that Biafra soldiers murdered Ogu sons and daughters.
The royal father who recalled the painful scenario that befell the people of Ogu noted that 1st April, 1968 at the climax of the Nigeria-Biafran civil war was the day the people of the community were evacuated by the Biafran soldiers from Ogu community to Igwuruta and various communities in Iboland hence the people of Ogu set the day aside as symbolic remembrance.
The Amanyanabo who described the day as painful and bitter experience disclosed that during the period 90% of Ogu people died.
The royal father who alleged that on that fateful day in a bid to escape from the hand of the Biafran soldiers, he had to swim the river from Ogu community to Bonny while his elder brother who jumped down from a vehicle was killed, while his parents were evacuated to Iboland.
On the cause of the evacuation of Ogu people, the royal father who noted that it was political motivated, noted that it was during the period of NCNC and Northern People Congress, NPC era stressed that those who were members of NCNC reported them to the Biafrans that they were saboteurs hence they were evacuated and most of them killed.
The royal father further maintained that despite the ugly incident the people of Ogu/Bolo have no grudge against the Igbos rather they intermarried with them and other tribes of Rivers State.
In a chat with journalists at the ceremony, Senator George Sekibo a former senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District who is also an indigene of Ogu noted that 1st April, 1968 was a day the people of Ogu community were evacuated and killed by the Biafrans hence the people of the area celebrate it annually.
Senator Sekibo who expressed sadness over the evil incident recalled that on that fateful day his own father was buried alive.
He gave God the glory that despite what happened the people of Ogu have produced prominent personalities as well as those who have positions of trust in both the state and the federal level, and appealed to Ogu people to always be in unity to move the community forward.
Similarly, in a chat with Evans Bipi, a lawmaker representing Ogu/Bolo constituency in the Rivers House of Assembly who regretted over the ugly incident that befell Ogu frowned at some of Ogu/Bolo sons and daughters were not in the ceremony due to politics.
According to him, “I see no reason why some persons could not attend this ceremony; they left the ceremony for the members of the Peoples Democratic Party alone to celebrate.
He called on Ogu people to be more united and live in harmony with one another.
Earlier in his speech the Chairman of Central Planning Committee of he ceremony, Paul Worika PhD stressed that the ceremony was geared towards remembrance of the day the people of Ogu were evacuated and killed from their community on 1st April, 1968 by Biafrans, pointing out that despite the ugly incident the people of Ogu, those who survived are still committed and courageous in their various duties. ###
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