A High Court in Enugu State has ruled that the British government must pay £420 million in compensation to the families of 21 Nigerian coal miners killed by colonial police in 1949.
In a landmark judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Anthony Onovo described the shootings as unlawful and a violation of the right to life. He ordered the British government to pay £20 million for each victim and to issue a formal apology published in newspapers in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
The case was filed by human rights activist Greg Onoh, seeking acknowledgment, apology, and reparations for the families. The British government did not have legal representation during the proceedings.
The killings occurred on November 18, 1949, at the Iva Valley coal mine in Enugu. Miners had gone on strike over unpaid wages and poor working conditions. Colonial authorities, led by Police Chief FS Philip, responded by opening fire on the unarmed protesters, killing 21 and injuring many others.
Justice Onovo noted that the miners “were asking for improved work conditions; they were not embarking on any violent action against the authorities but yet were shot and killed.” He also directed the Nigerian government to pursue diplomatic engagement with Britain within 60 days to ensure the ruling is implemented.
The victims have been identified as:
- Sunday Anyasodo
- Ani Oha
- Andrew J. Obiekwe Okonkwo
- Augustine Chiwetalu
- Onoh Ugwu
- Ngwu Offor
- Ndunguba Eze
- Okafor Agu
- Livinus Ukachunwa
- Jonathan Agu Ozoani
- Moses Ikegbu Okoloha
- Chukwu Ugwu
- Thomas Chukwu
- Simon Nwachukwu
- Agu Alo
- Ogbonnia Ani Chima
- Nnaji Nwachukwu
- William Nwaku
- James Onoh Ekeowa
- Felix Nnaji
- Ani Nwaekwe
This ruling represents one of the rare legal acknowledgments of colonial-era violence in Nigeria and sets a significant precedent for reparations claims related to historical injustices.
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