The arrival of Mr. Lloyd Garrison in Uturu Airstrip On 30th July, 1968 ushered in a new hope for Biafrans especially the Children at the Uturu Catholic Mission for Children located at Hopevile Uturu during the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War.
The New York Times war correspondent, Mr. Lloyd Garrison, first visited the Catholic Mission for Children, Uturu, where after he witnessed the pathetic condition of the Children in the then Catholic emergency hospital for more than 500 starving children (from Uturu and its neighbouring communities), donated some items like food, clothing etc to the Children.
The Uturu Catholic Mission for Children was a center for Children established by the Roman Catholic seminary in Uturu to take care of the People, especially children who were being affected by the war.
By then Uturu had become an atmosphere of death and despair, with the Nigerian Soldiers aiming to capture the Biafra Airstrip located in Uturu. Chief Godwin Obikpe who was also a Biafran Soldier of the 54th Battalion, 52 Brigade, described Uturu as a dead zone. According to him, “Uturu suffered heavy bombardments from Nigerian Air force Russian made Ilyushin Jets trying to destroy the Biafra Airstrip in Uturu. The Uturu Airstrip remained a DEATH zone during the Biafran war.”
As a result many Uturu people left their homes and ran for their lives. Some even left their children, properties etc; what a tragedy! In Eziama Achara, UTURU I witnessed some dilapidated buildings in their farm land(Nzerem) near lokpa, where some indigenes are believed to hide themselves during the war.
Today in Uturu, the Umuanyi People, Obiagu, Aro and Owerre Isunabo have an annual feast, 9th January (Umuanyi/Obiagu/Aro/Owerre Isunabo day), a day they returned to their homes because of the Nigerian/Biafra civil war.
Many lives was lost in ìgbo land during Biafra war, especially children. According to a report from The Marist Brother’s library, one of the Reverend Brothers in charge of The Uturu Catholic Mission for Children – Brother Aloysius, the Irishman reported: “grave is dug every morning and is not filled over until nightfall. Vultures circle overhead, lured by the scent of death.
The children are buried as soon as they die, wrapped in their straw mats. There is no time for caskets making. There is no time for funerals. A few prayers are murmured at graveside as the child is lowered gently.
(IGBO HISTORY VIA FACEBOOK)
