THE BRITISH EMPIRE SHOULD NOT FORGET BIAFRA EKUMEKU WAR OF 1883 - 1914 IN A HURRY

THE BRITISH EMPIRE SHOULD NOT FORGET BIAFRA EKUMEKU WAR OF 1883 - 1914 IN A HURRY

Ekumeku war was a resistance war fought by Biafrans against the forceful colonization of the Biafran territory by the British Empire. Ekumeku war was fought from 1883 to 1914, a war that lasted for thirty-one years. The opposition was strong in Anioma area where a series of wars were waged against the British. 

The Ekumeku, who were well organized and whose leaders were joined in secrecy oaths, effectively utilized guerrilla tactics to attack the British. Their forces, which were drawn from thousands of Anioma youths from all parts of Anioma, created many problems for the British, but the British used forceful tactics and heavy armaments (destroying homes, farmlands, and roads) to prevail. The Ekumeku, however, became a great source of Anioma nationalism.  

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The Ekumeku Movement is unique in Anioma history for two reasons. First, the length of time the movement endured, comprising Military campaigns over a period of thirty-one years. Secondly, it is the outstanding example in Anioma Civilization of an attempt to unite previously disunited states to resist the colonial Army. You have seen that one crucial reason for Anioma defeat was the great discrepancy of scale between the average Anioma community and the colonial army. The British decided on a preemptive strike, and in December 1902, sent a powerful expedition which systematically destroyed a number of towns and imprisoned their leaders. 

This, it was assumed, was the end of the Ekumeku, but in 1904, the Ekumeku rose again. This time, they changed their tactics, mistakenly, it would seem in retrospect, abandoning the united guerilla warfare of 1898 for the individual defense of each town. The last act of the Eureka drama began in late 1909. The occasion was a succession dispute in Ogwashi-Uku. One of the claimants, Nzekwe, the son of the last Obi, feared that the British would deprive him of his throne, and decided to fight for his inheritance.   

On the 2nd of November 1909, the British sent an expedition to Ogwashi-Uku but they failed in the expedition. The British perceived, in the whole Asaba hinterland, a sympathy with the Ekumeku, and a disposition to throw off government authority. In 1911, there was a final round-up of Ekumeku leaders in various towns that were followed, once more, by imprisonments.   The acting lieutenant-governor of the southern provinces sent an agitated telegram to Lagos: " the Whole country is above area...is the state of rebellion." 

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Reinforcements arrived from Lokoja, and the British proceeded to a confrontation at Akegbe. We quote both the contemporary British accounts of the battle at Nkwo market.   With the invasion of Ndoni in 1870 and the bombardment of Onicha-Ado (Onitsha) on the 2nd of November 1897, the stage was set for the Ekumeku war that engulfed the whole of Anioma. The Royal Niger Company (RNC) commandeered by Major Festing engaged Ibusa in 1898, and in 1904, it was the people of Owa/Ukwunzu against the British in a war that W. E. B. Crawford Coupland requested for more arms to crush the western Anioma communities. Owa would once again engage the British in 1906 in the battle that S. O. Crewe lost his own life.

On the 2nd of November 1909, it was finally the turn of Ogwashi-Ukwu who matched the British. In this war, the British sustained many casualties with the death of H. C. Chapman.   Although the Ekumeku failed in 1914, but Biafrans treasure the imperishable legacy of our heroes, which includes: Dunkwu Isus of Onicha-Olona, Nwabuzo Iyogolo of Ogwashi-Ukwu, Awuno Ugbo, Obi of Akumazi, Agbambu Oshue of Igbuzo, Idabor of Issele-Ukwu, Ochei Aghaeze of Onicha-Olona, Abuzu of Idumuje-Unor, Idegwu Otokpoike of Ubulu-Ukwu. The Ekumeku war is one of the most vigorous campaigns of opposition to the British Empire in Biafra land.   

The restoration of the Republic Of Biafra is inevitable if our great forefathers fought the British Empire for 31 years, and the war continued with our forefathers from 1967-1970, we the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) of this generation will fight this war to finish. It does not matter how long it will take, we must restore our land, our hope, our pride, our future and the future of our unborn children. Do not dare our resolve. Self-determination is a universal law. We must defend our live and land from any form of invasion from any country or people, be it the Islamic republic of Nigeria or its British Master. It is Biafra or death.   #FreeNnamdiKanu #FreeBiafra   

Written By Chijindu Ukah   
Edited By KeneChukwu HalleluYah Okekenta
Published By Ikechukwu Nwaorisa
FOR BIAFRA WRITERS