The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice has awarded N88 billion damages against the Federal Government of Nigeria for its failure to clear landmines and remains of explosives in the aftermath of the civil war in the South Eastern part of the country.
The Nigerian Civil War, commonly known as the Biafran War, which raged from July 6, 1967 to January 15, 1970, was a war fought between the government of Nigeria and the secessionist state of Biafra. The immediate causes of the war in 1966 included a military coup, a counter-coup as well as persecution of Igbo living in Northern Nigeria at the time. But when the war ended, the government then led by Gen. Yakubu Gowon made the famous declaration of “no victor, no vanquished…” but even since then, successive Nigerian government have stylishly neglected the South Eastern part of Nigeria.
But in what appeared like reopening a healing wound, Justice Chijioke Nwoke in a consent judgment delivered on Tuesday, ordered the Federal Government to commence clearing and evacuation of the aftermath of the civil war within 45 days.
