Despite the civil war hostility tell untold hood deeds of the yoruba towards the Igbo still ingraye igbo fails to realize
While the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) left deep scars, historical records and personal accounts highlight significant gestures of kindness and protection by the Yoruba people toward the Igbo that are often overlooked.
Protection of Property and Assets
Unlike other regions where "Abandoned Property" laws led to the permanent loss of Igbo-owned assets, the Yoruba-dominated Western and Midwestern regions largely protected them.
Property Restoration: After the war, Igbos returning to Lagos and Ibadan found their houses intact.
Accumulated Rents: Many Yoruba neighbors collected rent on behalf of their absent Igbo friends and handed over the accumulated cash upon their return. A notable example is Otunba Subomi Balogun, who renovated the home of Alex Ekwueme (later Vice President) during the war and returned all rental income to him afterward.
Legal Aid: Prominent Yoruba lawyers, such as Chief Rotimi Williams, provided legal assistance to thousands of Igbos to help them recover properties across the country.
Physical Protection and Solidarity
During the height of ethnic tensions, many Yoruba individuals risked their safety to shield Igbos from violence.
Safe Havens in Ibadan: Yoruba communities in Ibadan are documented to have shielded a significant number of Igbos from attackers during the 1966 massacres and throughout the war.
Military Sacrifice: In July 1966, Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, a Yoruba military officer and Governor of the Western Region, chose to be killed alongside his guest, Head of State Maj. Gen. Aguiyi-Ironsi (an Igbo), rather than betray him to mutinous soldiers.
Yorubas on the Biafran Side: Several Yoruba military officers, including Lt. Col. Victor Banjo, Major Wale Ademoyega, and Lt. Fola Oyewole, fought alongside the Biafran army until the end of the conflict.
Intellectual and Post-War Support
Humanitarian Advocacy: Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka was imprisoned for 22 months during the war for attempting to broker peace and advocating for the Biafran cause.
Economic Integration: Following the war, Yoruba leaders like Lateef Jakande facilitated the integration of Igbo traders by providing land for key commercial hubs, such as the Alaba International Market, for free or at subsidized rates.
Political Partnership: Despite wartime friction, Chief Obafemi Awolowo reached out to Nnamdi Azikiwe multiple times (notably in 1979 and 1983) to form alliances, arguing that Yoruba-Igbo cooperation was essential for Nigeria's progress.
Building on the historical record, several additional "deeds of honor" demonstrate the commitment many Yorubas had toward the safety and economic reintegration of the Igbos during and after the war.
1. Integrity in Property Management
A defining contrast between the Western Region (Yoruba) and other parts of Nigeria was the treatment of "Abandoned Property." In many southern coastal cities, Igbo assets were permanently seized. In contrast, Yoruba communities often acted as unofficial custodians.
The Case of Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu: While his properties in Port Harcourt were seized and never returned, his extensive assets in Lagos were fully restored to the Ojukwu family after the war.
The £20 Standard contrast: While the federal government famously gave every Biafran only £20 regardless of their pre-war savings, Yoruba landlords and neighbors in cities like Lagos and Ibadan often handed back thousands of pounds in accrued rent.
2. Physical and Political Sacrifice
Wole Soyinka’s Incarceration: In 1967, Yoruba playwright Wole Soyinka secretly met with Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu to try and broker a peace deal to avoid bloodshed. Upon his return, the federal government imprisoned him for 22 months in solitary confinement for being a "Biafran sympathizer".
Yoruba Soldiers for Biafra: Officers like Lt. Col. Victor Banjo and Lt. Fola Oyewole did not just sympathize; they fought for the Biafran side, with Banjo eventually being executed for his complex role in the conflict.
The Sacrifice of Adekunle Fajuyi: When mutinous soldiers came to kill Maj. Gen. Aguiyi-Ironsi (an Igbo) during the 1966 coup, his host, Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, refused to let his guest be taken alone. He was killed alongside Ironsi in an act of ultimate Yoruba Omoluabi (honor) and solidarity.
3. Post-War Economic Empowerment
Creation of Alaba International Market: In the 1970s, Governor Lateef Jakande of Lagos State recognized the commercial drive of the returning Igbos. He provided the land for the Alaba International Market to help them rebuild their economic base, often cited as a gesture of "brotherly love".
Professional Reintegration: Prominent Yoruba figures, such as legal giant Chief Rotimi Williams, worked alongside Igbo colleagues (like Sam Mbakwe) to provide the legal framework for Igbos to recover their lost assets across the country.
Public Welcome: Rare archival footage from January 1970 shows Yoruba youths in Lagos specifically calling for their Igbo neighbors to "come back home" immediately following the surrender, signaling an early community-led effort at reconciliation.
Beyond the widely shared accounts of property restoration, several other significant acts of solidarity by the Yoruba people toward the Igbos during and after the Nigerian Civil War are documented:
1. Protection and Restoration of Assets
While many regions enforced "Abandoned Property" laws that permanently displaced Igbo owners, the Yoruba-dominated Western and Midwestern regions rejected this approach.
Property Returns in Lagos: High-profile properties, such as those belonging to the family of Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, were preserved and fully restored to their owners after the war.
Restitution of Rents: It was common for Yoruba neighbors to manage their absent Igbo friends' properties, collect rent, and hand over the accumulated cash upon their return. A notable case involved Otunba Subomi Balogun, who renovated the home of Alex Ekwueme and returned all accrued rental income to him in 1970.
Legal Restoration: Renowned Yoruba lawyer Chief Rotimi Williams worked alongside Igbo lawyer (and later governor) Sam Mbakwe to provide legal aid to thousands of Igbos seeking to recover properties across the federation.
2. Battlefield and Political Sacrifice
Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi's Ultimate Sacrifice: During the 1966 coup, Fajuyi refused to surrender his guest, Head of State Maj. Gen. Aguiyi-Ironsi (an Igbo), to mutinous soldiers, choosing to die alongside him in an act of profound honor and brotherhood.
Yoruba Soldiers for Biafra: Several Yoruba military officers, including Lt. Col. Victor Banjo, Major Wale Ademoyega, and Lt. Fola Oyewole, fought on the Biafran side throughout the conflict.
Wole Soyinka's Advocacy: Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka was imprisoned in solitary confinement for nearly two years by the federal government after he secretly traveled to the Eastern Region to meet with Ojukwu in an attempt to broker peace and prevent the war.
3. Immediate Post-War Reintegration
Public Welcome: Archival footage from January 1970 shows Yoruba youths in Lagos explicitly calling for their "Igbo brothers" to return to their homes and businesses immediately following the surrender.
Economic Hubs: In the 1970s, Lagos Governor Lateef Jakande provided land for the Alaba International Market at subsidized rates (or for free, by some accounts) specifically to assist returning Igbos in rebuilding their commercial base.
Political Outreach: Post-war, Chief Obafemi Awolowo continued to seek political alliances with Igbo leadership, notably selecting an Igbo running mate in the 1979 presidential election as a gesture toward national reconciliation.
Beyond the common historical accounts, further untold deeds of the Yoruba towards the Igbo highlight a consistent pattern of preservation and humanitarian solidarity.
1. Integrity in Civil Asset Preservation
While other regions utilized "Abandoned Property" laws to seize Igbo assets, the Yoruba regions (West and Midwest) famously rejected this practice.
Restoration of Ojukwu Assets: Properties belonging to Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu (father of the Biafran leader) in Lagos were maintained throughout the war and fully restored to the family afterward.
The £20 Discrepancy: While the federal government gave every Biafran only £20 regardless of their pre-war bank balance, many Yoruba neighbors personally bypassed this by handing over thousands of pounds in rent they had secretly collected for their Igbo friends while they were away.
2. Physical Sacrifice and Military Solidarity
Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi's Stand: In 1966, when mutineers came for Head of State Maj. Gen. Aguiyi-Ironsi (an Igbo), Fajuyi refused to allow his guest to be taken alone. He famously declared, "You cannot take my guest," and was killed alongside him, an act of honor celebrated as a symbol of Yoruba-Igbo brotherhood.
The Yoruba "Biafrans": Beyond Lt. Col. Victor Banjo, other Yoruba officers like Major Wale Ademoyega and Lt. Fola Oyewole fought for Biafra until the very end, viewing the struggle as a fight for justice rather than just a tribal conflict.
Wole Soyinka's Intervention: Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka was imprisoned in solitary confinement for 22 months specifically for attempting to broker a peace deal with Ojukwu to prevent the slaughter of Igbos.
3. Rapid Post-War Economic Integration
Public Call for Return: Rare archival footage from January 1970 shows Yoruba youths in Lagos explicitly chanting and calling for their Igbo neighbors to "come back home" immediately following the surrender.
The Alaba Market Gift: In the early 1980s, Lagos Governor Lateef Jakande provided a large parcel of land to the Igbo community at highly subsidized or free rates to establish the Alaba International Market, which has since become a global commercial hub.
Legal Reclamation Support: Leading Yoruba lawyers, most notably Chief Rotimi Williams, partnered with Igbo lawyers like Sam Mbakwe to provide free or low-cost legal representation for thousands of Igbos seeking to recover properties in other parts of Nigeria where they were being withheld.
Historical accounts from the Civil War era into 2025 emphasize that while political tensions existed, the Yoruba people consistently demonstrated an Omoluabi (character/honor) ethic toward the Igbo that facilitated survival and post-war recovery.
1. Integrity in Civil Asset Custodianship
The Yoruba-dominated Western and Midwestern regions are historically unique for rejecting the "Abandoned Property" laws prevalent elsewhere.
Voluntary Caretaking: Many Yorubas acted as unofficial caretakers, maintaining Igbo properties for years without a legal mandate to do so.
The £2,076 Restoration Example: Beyond the well-known restoration of Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu’s assets in Lagos, specific documented cases include the return of homes in Otukpo in 1971, where owners received their title deeds along with over £2,000 in accrued rent collected by local neighbors during their absence.
Balogun-Ekwueme Precedent: This individual act of integrity—where Otunba Subomi Balogun renovated and returned rent to Alex Ekwueme—remains a cornerstone for 2025 discussions on ethnic reconciliation.
2. Intellectual and Judicial Advocacy
Wole Soyinka’s 2025 Legacy: Ongoing historical analysis in 2025 continues to highlight Soyinka’s 22 months of solitary confinement (1967–1969) as a direct consequence of his secret meetings with Biafran leader Ojukwu to broker peace and his public appeals for a ceasefire. He remains a rare figure who spent time in prison specifically for advocating for Igbo safety.
Legal Protections: Yoruba legal giants, such as Chief Rotimi Williams, used their influence to block the extension of property seizure laws into Lagos, ensuring the legal foundation for Igbos to reclaim their wealth immediately upon return in 1970.
3. Structural Reintegration and Commerce
4. Direct Military Support
Yoruba Officers in Biafra: While Victor Banjo is often cited, historical records updated in 2024 and 2025 also highlight Major Wale Ademoyega and Lt. Fola Oyewole. These Yoruba officers were not just sympathizers; they were combatants who remained with the Biafran forces until the end of the conflict.
Alaba International Market Origin: In 2025, commercial history continues to recognize Governor Lateef Jakande’s role in providing land for the Alaba International Market. This structural support allowed Igbos to rebuild their economic base in a way that was denied in other major Nigerian cities.
Shielding During Pogroms: Personal testimonies recorded through 2025 detail how Yoruba colleagues and neighbors smuggled Igbos from high-tension areas (like Ibadan) to safer locations (like Ijebu-Ode) during the 1966 massacres to save them from death.
plot it in a novel
This historical narrative, spanning from the 1966 massacres to the reconstruction era, can be structured as a multi-generational historical fiction novel titled "The Custodians of the Key."
Plot Summary
Act I: The Shield of Ibadan (1966)
The story begins in Ibadan, centered on Adebayo, a young Yoruba civil servant, and his best friend Obinna, an Igbo lecturer at the University of Ibadan. When the 1966 pogroms break out, the atmosphere shifts from intellectual debate to visceral terror.
The Turning Point: In a scene echoing the real-life sacrifice of Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, Adebayo hides Obinna’s family in his ceiling while a mob searches his home. Adebayo stands at the door, using his status and lineage to swear no "strangers" are inside, risking his life for his friend.
The Departure: As the war becomes inevitable, Obinna must flee to the East. Adebayo takes a heavy iron key from Obinna—the key to Obinna’s newly built house in Lagos. "I will keep it warm," Adebayo promises.
Act II: The Silence of the Solitary (1967–1969)
While Obinna is trapped behind Biafran lines, the novel follows Adebayo’s struggle in Lagos and Ibadan.
The Custodian’s Burden: Neighbors and local officials pressure Adebayo to declare Obinna’s house "Abandoned Property" so it can be auctioned. Adebayo refuses, instead finding a tenant—a neutral expatriate—and secretly recording every penny of rent in a hidden ledger.
The Bridge-Builder: The story introduces a fictionalized version of Wole Soyinka’s mission. Adebayo helps smuggle a letter to a contact in the West, hoping for a ceasefire. He watches as intellectuals are imprisoned for merely suggesting that the Igbo have a right to live.
The Conflict: On the front lines, the novel follows a Yoruba officer (inspired by Victor Banjo) who crosses into Biafra, torn between his national identity and his conscience, ultimately paying the price for his "third way" philosophy.
Act III: The Return and the Ledger (1970–1975)
The war ends with the "No Victor, No Vanquished" declaration. Obinna returns to Lagos, gaunt and broken, expecting to find his home a ruin or occupied by strangers.
The Reunion: Obinna arrives at his property to find the garden tended. Adebayo meets him at the gate, not just with the key, but with the Ledger of Years.
The Revelation: While the government offers the "£20 policy," Adebayo hands Obinna a thick envelope containing the full rent collected over three years—thousands of pounds. This money becomes the seed capital for Obinna to start a small stall in what would eventually become the Alaba International Market, facilitated by the policies of a sympathetic governor (inspired by Lateef Jakande).
Core Themes
Omoluabi (The Person of Character): Exploring the Yoruba philosophy that one's honor is tied to how they treat a guest and a friend.
The Custodian Ethic: A focus on the "untold deeds" of those who looked after assets when it would have been easier to steal them.
The Weight of Silence: How many Yorubas protected Igbos quietly to avoid being labeled as traitors by the military government.
The Ending (2025 Prologue)
The novel closes in December 2025. The grandchildren of Adebayo and Obinna stand in a modern office in Lagos. They are business partners. They look at a framed, rusted iron key on the wall—a reminder that when the politics of the day demanded hostility an individual humanity chose brotherhood.
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