The National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM), on Monday marked the 75th anniversary for massacre of 21 coal miners at Iva Valley, Enugu by the colonial masters.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 21 coal miners were shot dead in Enugu on Nov. 18, 1949 by the colonial master for agitating for better working condition and improved welfare packages.
The event was organised by NCMM in partnership with the Centre for Memories, Enugu, Awka Museum Foundation, International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS-Nigeria), Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Afri Archives and others.
Speaking at the event, the Curator, National Museum of Unity, Enugu, Mr Aloysius Duru, emphasised the importance of celebrating the 21 coal miners that laid down their lives for others, stressing that the nation seemed to be quiet about the event.
“This is why we want to make memorial of it. Today, we want to remember them being the Nov.18. We called on people to celebrate and remind them about these miners,” he said.
The curator added that the incident led to formation of labour unions, explaining that after it, people developed urge to have a union to speak for them as a body.
According to him, the incident led to the issue of Nigeria independence as the resilience of those miners spurred the nationalists to agitate for the country’s independence.
“We want their families not to keep quiet but to speak out and request for compensation as the act is condemnable,” Duru said.
He, however, urged Enugu people to take their history serious and visit the museum and other historic places.
He debunked the rumour that Enugu Museum had been sold, saying, “We are still active and recently upgraded our galleries.
“Come and emnbrace your culture and don’t let what made Enugu die.”
The representative of ICOMOS-Nigeria, Dr Ijeoma Onyejekwe, noted that most of the late miners came from different parts of Nigeria because coal was a Federal Government project.
He said many of them came from Enugu, Kogi, Niger Delta and Northern Nigeria, adding that there was need to remember them as well as British government giving their families compensation.
Also speaking, the Director, Centre for Memories, Enugu, Mr Iheanyi Igboko, while descrbing the celebration as a milestone, urged the governments to protect the rights of workers and priotise their welfare for increased productivity.
Igboko said, “What we are celebrating today is resilience to fight against injustice. What led to the death of those coal miners still persist, that is, worker’s welfare.
“Today, the right and welfare of workers is abysmally poor. As we commemorate this event, we raise our voice to make same demand. We remind the leaders to think about the people and protect their rights by ensuring true and equitable society.
“We are celebrating resistance, fight and quest for justice that led these to spill their blood.”
The Convener of the Coal Miner Legacy Project, Mr Ajuluchukwu Ene, disclosed that the groups usually celebrated the anniversary separately but decided to do it together this year.
“Since 2015 I began this project, this is the first time Enugu State Government is getting involved. They placed the statue of these late miners at popular New Market area of the state.
“We know that coal mining is happening again in Enugu and we believe that 75th anniversary will drive deeper conservation on coal mining in the state,” he said.
Sam Eze-Chidera, the Curator Enugu Photo Festival, a Community of virtual storytellers, Enugu, added that the organisation opened exhibition on Nov. 1, at the museum to honour the 21 coal miners. (NAN)
