Emeka Esogbue

 Col. Sylvanus Nwajei (Retd): His Life, Legacy, and Language of War – Part Three By Emeka Esogbue Every war leaves behind not only stories of battles fought but also lessons etched in memory, culture, and the voices of those who survived. For Col. Sylvanus Benedict Amaechi Nwajei, the journey from the barracks of Warri to the command fields of Biafra was not just about strategy and survival; it was about the enduring imprint of a people’s resilience and the language with which they interpreted their tragedy. In Ibusa and across Anioma, elders recall that war was not fought only with rifles and bayonets but also with words, songs, and coded expressions that carried both warning and hope. For Nwajei, a disciplined soldier trained to British standards, this cultural backdrop remained inseparable from his military career. His story does not end with the gunfire of January 1970; it extends into how his generation narrated their loss, preserved their dignity, and transmitted the language...

  Asaba Division Massacre: A Murtala Injustice Yet to be Recognized as a National Tragedy -        Emeka Esogbue It is 55 years since the series of massacres perpetuated in the defunct Asaba Division now the Anioma area. Today, nearly every Nigerian citizen, and Africans interested in conflict resolution has heard of the Asaba Massacre but it is not yet declared a national tragedy by the Federal Government of Nigeria. For this reason, it remains an irony still living with the Anioma people today. The Anioma people, found in Delta State of Nigeria today are a group of people that comprise the Aniocha, Oshimili, Ika and Ndokwa/Ukwuani. The region is known for its richness in human resources, producing some of the famous soldiers that fought on the sides of both Nigeria and Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War but majority of the brightest soldiers identified with Biafra. They include Major-General Alabi-Isama who fought on the side of Nigeria and r...

  Nduka Eze: The Nigerian Nationalist from Asaba Who Lost His Wife to Asaba Massacre By Emeka Esogbue Only a few writers of history will recollect Nduka Eze of the blessed memory yet he was one of the most popular Nigerian nationalists, politician, writer, author and trade unionist of his time. As a nationalist, he contributed in several fronts towards the independence of the country from the British colonialists. Born Sylvester Nduka-Eze (familarly called Nduka Eze) in Asaba to Asaba parents from Umuaji Quarters of the community on February 25, 1925, he was one of the most influential and popular Anioma natives that ever lived. Nduka Eze as he was simply called was a freedom fighter, a founding member of the Zikist Movement who also worked with the United African Company where he rose to become the National President of the union. He was a student, believer, follower and propagator of the nationalist ideas and philosophies of Dr. Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe before eventually switc...