March 2: Today in Nigeria history, Biafra ‘Iconic warrior’, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was buried

• Chukwuemeka Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu was buried
• Over 50 kidnapped by suspected bandits in Niger
• Gunmen killed one and kidnapped atleast five in Obokun
• Kidnappers abducted three students in Safana, Katsina

According to George Orwell, the most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.

Every historical fact merits protection. As every detail—good or bad—represents a positive aspect of us, we must value them as precious. We must keep in mind the successes and failures of the past as we make projections for the future.

WITHIN NIGERIA has highlighted four notable events that occurred on March 2 in an effort to create awareness and contribute to historical documentation for educational purpose.

Chukwuemeka Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu was buried

On this date, March 2 in 2012, Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu was buried in a newly built mausoleum in his compound at Nnewi, Anambra state.

The brave soldier, Ojukwu died on 26th November, 2011 at the age of 78 in the United Kingdom after a brief illness.

The Nigerian Army accorded him the highest military accolade and conducted a funeral parade for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February 2012, the day his body was flown back to Nigeria from London before his burial on Friday 2 March.

Before his final interment, he had an elaborate weeklong funeral ceremony in Nigeria alongside Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his body was carried around the five Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation’s capital, Abuja. Memorial services and public events were also held in his honour in several places across Nigeria, including Lagos and Niger State, his birthplace, and as far away as Dallas, Texas, United States.

Chukwuemeka “Emeka” Odumegwu Ojukwu was a Nigerian military officer, statesman and politician who served as the military governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria in 1966 and as president of the secessionist Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970, which declared independence from Nigeria during the Nigerian Civil War. He was active as a politician from 1983 until his death in 2011 at the age of 78.

Over 50 kidnapped by suspected bandits in Niger

On this date, March 2 in 2021, more than fifty persons were abducted by armed bandits along the Tegina-Minna road in Rafi Local Government of Niger state.

According to reports, the incident occurred on Tuesday when the three commercial vehicles conveying nine passengers including the drivers ran into the road block at Kundu set up by the bandits.

A source disclosed that the passengers in the three cars were kidnapped and conveyed to an unknown location and the vehicles were left by the road side.

On this date, March 2 in 2021, unknown gunmen attacked passengers along the Osogbo/Ibokun road in Osun State on Tuesday night, killing one and abducting several others.

According to sources, the incidents happened around 7:30 p.m. at Aje Bamidele village in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun.

A witness, who preferred not to say his name for fear of a reprisal attack on the community, said many vehicles plying the road during the gunmen attack made a U-turn.

Kidnappers abducted three students in Safana, Katsina

On this date, 2nd of March in 2021, No fewer than three Senior Secondary Students were on Tuesday kidnapped from a Community Secondary School (Day school) in Runka town, Safana Local government area of Katsina State.

According to reports, the gunmen stormed the area in their numbers and kidnapped the students on their way home and after closing from school.