A powerful global movement to confront one of Nigeria’s most painful historical tragedies continues to gather momentum as The 7th October 1967 Asaba Massacre Documentary moves from London, to Lagos, and on to its major United States screening scheduled for February 2026.

The documentary, which revisits the mass killing of over 1,000 unarmed civilians who were executed for their ethnic affinity to the ibos in Biafra, though Asaba was within the Nigerian territory during the Nigerian Civil War, is rapidly evolving into one of Africa’s most significant historical justice campaigns—uniting scholars, legal experts, traditional leaders, and members of the global African diaspora.

THE LONDON PREMIERE: A HISTORIC INTERNATIONAL UNVEILING

The international journey began in London, where the documentary had its European unveiling in late 2025. The event hosted an impressive assembly of global scholars, cultural historians, and Nigerian diaspora leaders.

The London screening was chaired by the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty Asagba Professor Epiphany Azinge SAN, OON, who provided a powerful traditional and intellectual grounding for the event, calling for truth, healing, and historical accountability.

In attendance were:

Prof. Elizabeth Bird – leading anthropologist and co-author of Asaba Massacre: Trauma, Memory, and the Nigerian Civil War

Prof. Fraser Ottanelli – historian and co-author of the same landmark academic work

Prof. Oba Nsugbe KC – senior legal scholar and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Africa Centre

Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze, Isama Ajie of Asaba; Executive Producer

Nze Ed Keazor, Executive Editor

African diaspora community leaders, UK-based historians, media executives, and human rights advocates

A major highlight came from Dr. Charles Adams, Dean at the University of South Florida, representing the institution that funded the foundational research which produced the internationally acclaimed book on the Asaba Massacre.

Dr. Adams announced that the Asaba Massacre has now been officially approved as a subject of study for undergraduates in the University’s Transitional Justice Department. This landmark development elevates the massacre into the global academic space, firmly establishing it as a recognised case study in international justice, memory studies, and humanitarian law.

The London event established the film as a major historical archival project—one that challenges decades of silence and compels the world to confront a largely unacknowledged atrocity.

LAGOS AFRICAN SCREENING: LEGAL LEADERS & HISTORIANS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY

On 26 November 2025, the documentary held its African broadcast premiere from Lagos. The event featured some of Nigeria’s most respected legal minds and historians.

Panelists included:
Ademola Akinrele SAN,
Yemi Candide-Johnson SAN,
Olasupo Shasore SAN,
Chief Chijioke Okoli SAN,
Aduke Gomez,
Historian Ed Keazor,
Gambo Pam,
and Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze.

The panel dissected:

The legal dimensions of mass atrocities
The rights of victims’ families
Historical suppression of the Asaba story
The urgent need for memorialisation
The national responsibility to apologise and provide reparation

A LONG-AWAITED U.S. SCREENING — NEW YORK CITY, FEBRUARY 19TH, 2026

The global campaign now heads to the United States, where the film will be screened at the prestigious Harvard Club of New York City, Manhattan.

Panelists for the U.S. event include:

Prof. Elizabeth Bird
Prof. Fraser Ottanelli
Oba Nsugbe KC
Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze
Nze Ed Keazor

The U.S. screening aims to:

Sharpen international focus on wartime atrocities in Africa

Strengthen diaspora connections to Nigerian and African history

The Asaba Massacre was not only a Nigerian tragedy – it was a violation of international humanitarian norms. The people of Asaba were not combatants; they were civilians dressed in white garments, assembling and chanting for peace.

They were executed simply for their ethnic affinity to Ibos in Biafra

The film’s producers and advocates argue that remembering Asaba is essential for:

Justice and national healing
Preventing repeated military crimes
Correcting historical distortions
Preserving African stories with global relevance

With the London, Lagos, and New York screenings, the Asaba narrative is now firmly taking its place in world history.