The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), a prominent Igbo socio-cultural organization, has issued a strong rebuke against General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former military leader, accusing him of perpetuating genocide against the Igbo people during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). The allegations were made following remarks Gowon gave during a recent interview and his 90th birthday celebration.
In a statement signed by OYC President, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, the council described Gowon’s leadership during the civil war as ruthless and compared him to Uganda’s notorious dictator, Idi Amin. The council rejects the term “civil war” and instead claims that the events of 1966-1970 were a deliberate genocide against the Igbo, orchestrated by the British government alongside Nigeria’s Northern and Western political blocs.
### Claims of Human Rights Violations
OYC’s statement accuses Gowon of directing military campaigns that targeted civilians, including bombings of markets and schools. Notable examples cited include the bombing of Owerinta market, where over 100 civilians reportedly died, and the destruction of Uzuakoli and Ozuabam markets, as well as Okigwe National High School, where schoolchildren were killed.
One particularly painful event for the Igbo youth is the 1967 Asaba massacre, in which over 700 Igbo men and boys were killed. According to OYC, this massacre was part of a larger campaign of violence spearheaded by Gowon’s regime, with support from international powers such as Britain, the United States, and Russia.
### Calls for Accountability
The Ohanaeze Youth Council demands that Gowon be held accountable for these alleged war crimes, including the operation known as “No Mercy: Shoot Everything Aside,” which they claim involved the killing of civilians and children even after ceasefires had been declared. They also pointed to atrocities in areas like Mbaise in Imo State, where innocent schoolgirls were reportedly shot by soldiers. The council highlighted the case of Prof. Chinwe Obaji, who survived an attack in which over 100 schoolchildren were killed.
OYC further argues that Gowon’s motivations for these atrocities stemmed from economic interests, particularly control over the oil resources in the Eastern region. They also accused him of acting as a puppet of the British government, whose goal was to marginalize the Igbo people for economic gain.
The youth council likened the Igbo genocide during the war to the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were killed during World War II. OYC asserts that over four million Igbos were killed during the Nigerian Civil War and claims this was part of a broader strategy to weaken and marginalize the Igbo population within Nigeria.
OYC believes that the long-term consequences of the war continue to affect the Igbo people today, with Nigeria’s political and economic systems structured to marginalize them. The council also links the instability in the Middle Belt region, including attacks by Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen, to the legacy of Gowon’s actions during the war.
In concluding its statement, the council called for a national referendum and conference to address Nigeria’s ongoing political challenges and ensure the survival of its diverse populations.
Comrade Igboayaka emphasized that the Igbo people would continue to fight for justice and recognition of the atrocities committed against them during the Nigerian Civil War, accusing General Gowon of being a “chronicle liar” who continues to deny the true nature of his actions.
