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Igbo Land Bleeds! (1)

6 hours ago 22

Since the extradition of Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria, sleep has eluded Ndigbo and many people have been killed as Igbo land bleeds. Many Igbo houses have been destroyed or deserted for safety. They are now fugitives and refugees in their ancestral land as they wander, and anyone who dares cry and complain publicly runs into trouble. They are under siege and fear from unknown gunmen. Their lives are now endangered.

The history of Ndigbo is one known to be full of bravery, industriousness, equity, justice and fairness, with a very high moral standard. Ndigbo are hospitable, value human beings and see life as sacrosanct. Their justice system was unbiased, very efficient and effective until the white man came and did not only make it look inferior but equally destroyed everything about their religion, culture and ways of life. The philosophy of their life is anchored on the principle of justice, equal rights and opportunities for all. Consequently, these wanton killings in Igbo land currently are alien to Ndigbo, and it is absurd and embarrassing. Are Igbos the perpetrators of these dastardly murders or has an enemy infiltrated Igbo land?

Events that happened around Ndigbo since existence showed a people that loved themselves and that were united. But ugly incidences that have been consistent since the white man came and sowed his evil seed of disunity, exploitation and imperialism degenerated the situation of things from bad to worse. Family core values have been lost in most homes. Since after the civil war things seem to have fallen apart in the lives of Ndigbo and the centre of Igbo spirit does not hold anymore.

According to historians, slaves from West Africa that were shipped to America before 1803 were around 1.7 million, and estimated 1.3 million of them were Ndigbo. 75 from these Igbo slaves were said to have been in a ship en route to a local slave market where they were to be auctioned like tomatoes and animals to interested slave buyers, but in unity and one accord they overpowered the crew and sank the ship – preferring to die rather than live as slaves. According to another version of the story the ship actually got to a place known today in Georgia as “Igbo Landing”, and these Igbos came out from the ship – as they were chained together – and walked into the river and drowned. While they were walking into the river to meet death, they were singing, “By the water spirits we came and by the water spirits we will be taken home,” historians wrote. It must have been heart-breaking.

Abused, brutalized and in pain, even at the point of death, these 75 Igbos were still formidably united to resist oppression and did not betray one another. They preferred to die together than accept the way those who were not civilized but falsely claimed to know civilization had treated them. “Onuru ube nwanne agbalaoso” (When one hears the cry of a brother or a sister/or a relative one should not run away.) That is indeed the spirit of Ndigbo. Their bonds are like the connection between eyes and nose – they are too strong. When the eye starts crying the nose joins. And that was why Ndigbo survived the 20 pounds policy after the war.

The Igbo culture of “Onye aghala nwanne ya” (No one leaves a brother/sister or a relative behind”)” is unbreakable. What happened to this Igbo bond? Is blood no longer thicker than water? Why are there too many killings currently going on in Igbo land? The lives of innocent Ndigbo grossly abused, brutalized and shortly terminated in Igbo land are avoidable tragedies that should not be continued. The situation is pathetic and those who are alive are in perpetual fear. Is there a war in ala-Igbo? Why are Ndigbo leaders silent?

More than 5,000 people have been reportedly killed in just one local government, precisely in Orsu, Imo State, within the last four years.

*To be continued