Over three decades after risking everything to save more than 1,000 Nigerians during Liberia’s brutal civil war, Emmanuel Chukwu, once one of the wealthiest Nigerian businessmen in West Africa, lives in quiet hardship, still waiting for the help and recognition he was promised.
In 1989, as Liberia descended into chaos and bloodshed, Mr. Chukwu used his personal wealth, influence, and resources to mount a daring rescue operation, evacuating stranded Nigerians when the Nigerian government had no plan in place.
At the time, Chukwu, a major investor in Liberia with assets estimated at over $89 million, owned businesses, cargo ships, and a fleet of vehicles. But when rebel leader Charles Taylor declared Nigeria an “enemy state” and threatened to retaliate against Nigerians for every Liberian killed, the stakes turned deadly.
Rather than flee for his own safety, Chukwu sprang into action. He handed over his brand-new Mercedes-Benz and other assets to secure the release of captured Nigerians. He mobilized his two personal cargo ships, instructing those in danger to head straight for the docks. Over 1,000 Nigerians, including women and children, were saved, after he reportedly bribed Taylor’s coastal guards to allow safe passage.
The act of bravery came at an enormous cost. Chukwu lost his entire fortune. His ships were gone. Goods were abandoned. Nigerian banks holding his money collapsed amid economic turmoil. He returned to Nigeria with his family and just $600 to his name. Worse still, his younger brother, captured during the violence, never made it out alive.
Back home, he was assured by the then-military government under General Ibrahim Babangida that he would be compensated. Although initial approvals were granted, the promise never materialised. Successive administrations, including those of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, offered hope, but ultimately failed to deliver. Even the late Dora Akunyili, former NAFDAC boss and minister, reportedly took up his case before her death.
Today, Mr. Chukwu splits his life between Lagos and Suleja, living in near obscurity. His wife, who stood by him through the years, is now blind — a result of incomplete medical treatment they could no longer afford. Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State once extended assistance, but it came too late to restore her vision.
“She used to say, ‘I just want to see again,’” Chukwu recalls.
Despite the hardship and heartbreak, Emmanuel Chukwu remains hopeful that one day, Nigeria will remember his sacrifice — and fulfill the promises made to him more than 30 years ago.
Calls for Recognition
As stories of his heroism resurface online, Nigerians are urging the federal government to act. Many believe that Emmanuel Chukwu deserves not only compensation, but national recognition for stepping up when the state was absent.
“This man saved lives when our government was silent,” one citizen wrote on social media. “He deserves honour, support, and justice.”
