Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he cannot provide a detailed account of the Asaba Massacre despite serving as a military officer during the Nigerian Civil War.
According to Punch, Obasanjo made the remarks in Abeokuta while receiving historical materials, books, videos and eyewitness accounts documenting the Asaba Massacre and other events from the civil war.
The former president acknowledged his role in the conflict but said he did not have direct knowledge of all the circumstances surrounding the massacre.
“I must confess, and you know that I was involved in the civil war. When people talk about the Asaba Massacre, I always confess that I cannot give details of it,” he said.
Obasanjo stressed the importance of preserving historical records and collecting eyewitness testimonies to help Nigerians better understand the country’s past. He commended those documenting the civil war, describing historical preservation as vital for national reflection, healing and unity, and said he would study the materials presented to him to deepen his understanding of the events.
