Heroes of Enugu: Remembering the 1949 Coal Miners
In the heart of Enugu stands a quiet reminder of sacrifice — a statue built to honour 21 coal miners who lost their lives in 1949.
They were not soldiers.
They were not politicians.
They were ordinary workers.
Fathers. Brothers. Providers.
These miners had demanded better working conditions, fair wages, and respect. Instead of dialogue, the colonial authorities responded with force. Police opened fire on the unarmed workers, killing 21 and injuring many others in what would become one of the most tragic episodes of British colonial rule in Nigeria.
For decades, their deaths remained a painful memory carried by families and the local community. But time did not erase their importance.
Today, they are remembered not just as victims — but as heroes.
Their sacrifice helped awaken a stronger resistance against colonial oppression and strengthened the demand for justice and dignity. What happened in Enugu became part of the larger story of Nigeria’s struggle for freedom.
Now, generations later, their names still echo in history.
Because independence was not handed over freely.
It was earned through courage.
Through resistance.
Through sacrifice.
And in Enugu, it is remembered in stone.
Categorias
Leia Mais
Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Elon Musk, saying the tech billionaire will face “very serious consequences” if he decides to support Democratic candidates in the upcoming election cycle. In a pre-recorded interview with NBC News set to air Sunday, Trump made clear that his falling-out with Musk is final. The two men, once closely aligned, have been engaged in a heated...
The Nigerian currency showed some strength in the Nigerian foreign exchange market, while the haven currency dipped to its lowest level since February 2022 in the global currency market. This positive development at the Nigerian official market coincides with a decline in the country’s external reserves, which fell $3.05 billion in the first half of 2025. In particular, the reserves...
Everyone feared Ajànàkú. His shrine sat at the edge of the village where the forest thickened and the air smelled of burnt herbs and old secrets. People came to him for protection, power, luck—and revenge. He never failed them, and that was the problem. Power had made his heart dry. When Kunle, a trader from a neighboring town, visited Ajànàkú...
Senator representing Edo North and former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has given insight into what transpired on Wednesday morning at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, Zulu Hall. He narrated how passengers, including himself, were prevented from boarding an Air Peace flight to Abuja despite having checked in online. Comrade Oshiomhole, who spoke to Vanguard after a video...
At a special Channels Television forum held to mark 26 years of uninterrupted democratic rule in Nigeria, prominent figures across sectors called for a deeper, people-focused democratic system beyond regular elections. Speaking at the forum titled “Nigeria’s Democratic Journey: An Inter-Generational Conversation on Building a Better Nation,” were former Ekiti State Governor...
