Brave Dickson
The Ijaw Youth Congress has unveiled activities to mark the remembrance day of late Maj. Isaac Adaka Boro, saying that the arm struggle of Boro helped the Niger Delta region.
May 16 of every year has been set aside by the Ijaws to remember the heroic feats of Boro.
The late Major Boro (September 10, 1938 – May 9, 1968) was a Nigerian Ijaw nationalist and soldier.
He led a protest against the exploitation of oil and gas resources in the Niger Delta areas which benefited mainly the federal government of Nigeria
Boro later formed the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, an armed militia with members consisting mainly of his fellow Ijaw ethnic group.
They declared the Niger Delta Republic on February 23, 1966 and fought with federal forces for 12 days before being defeated.
He and his comrades were jailed for treason. However, the federal regime of General Yakubu Gowon granted him amnesty on the eve of the Nigerian civil war in May 1967.
He was enlisted and commissioned as a Major in the Nigerian army. He fought on the side of the Federal Government during the civil war but was killed under mysterious circumstances in active service in 1968 at Ogu (near Okrika) in Rivers State.
Speaking with our correspondent, the IYC chairman of Kalahari Clan, Edward Asiki-Tams maintained that the struggles of Boro brought about the creation of states across the Niger Delta as well as the global recognition of the Ijaw people.
He further said the oil derivation to the Niger Delta is attributed to the struggles of Boro including the creation of Niger Delta Development Commission, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs among others.
Asiki-Tams called on the people of the Niger Delta to use the Boro’s remembrance day to reawake the spirit of selfless service which Boro was known for.
