The Nigerian Army, through its Heritage and Future Center, has conducted an inspection of several historical sites in Anambra State that were used by the defunct Biafran Army during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war.
The sites profiled during the visit included the Biafran airstrip at Uli, the reconciliation house at Amichi, Ojukwu’s bunker at Amorka, as well as locations in Abagana and other areas. The inspection was led by Major General John Sokoya, accompanied by a platoon of military personnel and the Anambra State Commissioner for Culture, Tourism, and Entertainment, Comrade Don Onyenji.
Commissioner Onyenji, who welcomed the military team, expressed gratitude for their efforts to preserve these important historical landmarks. He emphasized that preserving the heritage sites would offer valuable lessons for future generations and hoped the collaboration with the military would further boost human activities, enrich the environment, and promote tourism in the state.
Major General Sokoya, leader of the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Center, thanked Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the people of Anambra for their hospitality. He clarified that the mission was not to reopen old wounds but to preserve historical sites and prevent a repeat of the civil war’s tragic events.
Dr. ABC Orjiakor, a native of Uli who was six years old when the war began, noted that remnants from the civil war could have served as a war museum if they had not been destroyed or removed. He recalled how his father’s house, located near the Uli airstrip, was used by the Biafran Army for military intelligence, and how families in the community built bunkers to protect themselves from bombardments.
Dr. Orjiakor also called on the Federal Government to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in adherence to the rule of law and address the rising insecurity in the Southeast, while creating job opportunities for the youth.
The visit concluded with the presentation of a plaque to Governor Soludo by the Nigerian Army, as a gesture of appreciation for the support and security provided during the inspection.
