Obafemi Awolowo University Massacre Occurs
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!On July 10, 1999, five students from Obafemi Awolowo university were brutally murdered by over 40 members of the Black Axe Confraternity who teamed up with their colleagues from other schools, leaving several others injured.
The rampaging cultists stormed the Awolowo Hall of the university at around 4.30am, dressed in black, covering their faces with masks as they unleashed mayhem on the students, shooting sporadically while some used machetes on the victims.
July 10 OAU Massacre; What Actually Happened – Education – Nigeria
Among the victims was George Iwilade, a 21-year-old 400-level law student and the Secretary-General of the Students Union, known by his nickname Afrika. The other victims included Eviano Ekeimu, a 400-level Medicine student; Yemi Ajiteru, an extra-year student; Babatunde Oke, a 100-level Philosophy student; and Godfrey Ekpede.
Lanre Adeleke (aka Legacy), the then students’ union president and a survivor of the attack, accused the Vice-Chancellor at the time, Wale Omole, of sponsoring the deadly attack. Mr. Omole repeatedly denied any involvement in the incident. However, families of the victims and other activists still demand for justice.
Over 100 Burnt In Delta Communities
Also on this day in 2000, in the Niger Delta villages of Adeje and Oviri-Court in Delta State, over 100 people were killed after a damaged gasoline pipeline exploded.
Pipeline explosion rocks Delta community, injures many
Some reports suggested that as many as 250 individuals might have died in the flames but eyewitnesses stated that 100 bodies were counted, many of whom were young children in school uniforms. The explosion occurred early in the morning but the fire continued to burn till the next day, with clouds of black smoke filling the area as state petroleum company workers and firefighters tried to control the blaze.
Other major events on this day
- Nigeria became the 11th member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) – 1971
- Howard Hughes flew around the world in 91 hours – 1938
- Pioneering Black doctor performed successful open-heart surgery – 1893
- Scopes Monkey trial began – 1925
- England declared war on The Netherlands – beginning of the 1st Anglo-Dutch war – 1652
- Failed assassination attempt on King Hassan II of Morocco took place, 101 killed – 1971
- Boris Yeltsin sworn in as the 1st elected President of the Russian Federation – 1991
- Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Italian champions Juventus in a record-deal worth £99.2m – 2018.
