By

Chinyelu Okeke

ABEOKUTA — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that Nigeria risks sliding back into civil conflict if the root causes that triggered the 1967–1970 civil war are not urgently addressed.

Obasanjo gave the warning on Thursday, July 3, 2026, while receiving a historical documentation on the Asaba Massacre from the Isama Ajie of Asaba, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The document, titled Asaba Massacre, includes a published transcript and an audiovisual documentary compiled from eyewitness accounts, recorded interviews, archival materials, and extensive research.

Speaking at the presentation, the former military commander said he deliberately avoided commenting extensively on the Asaba killings because the area was under the command of the late Murtala Muhammed at the time. He, however, praised Chief Nduka-Eze for the effort, describing it as a vital step toward preserving history and ensuring such atrocities are not repeated.

“We pride ourselves that we preserve the past, we capture the present and we inspire the future. We capture the past, and this is the past; we want to capture it, we want to know about it,” Obasanjo said.

Reflecting on his wartime experience, he admitted he could not give details of the Asaba 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 stated.

He also recalled intervening to stop a soldier from attempting to rape a woman in Asaba during the war, noting that such acts would have warranted consequences under command responsibility.

Obasanjo expressed concern that many of the grievances that fueled the civil war remain unresolved. He stressed that leaders and citizens must learn from history to safeguard national unity and prevent another conflict.

Earlier, Chief Nduka-Eze said the publication was the product of years of research based on testimonies and archival records. He noted that evidence showed federal troops assembled Asaba residents and asked them to declare “One Nigeria” after entering the town during the war.

Obasanjo’s remarks come amid renewed national conversations on unity, reconciliation, and addressing longstanding grievances to avoid a repeat of past tragedies.