Today is the first Thursday with 2022 attached to it, and a great day to bring a #throwbackthursday post by asking #haveyoubeenhere?

It's a historical location in the government reserved area G.R.A. of the city of Umuahia, the capital of Abia state, in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. The location is Ojukwu's Bunker.

What Is The Big Deal About Ojukwu's Bunker?

A look at the environment housing the bunker shows nothing very spectacular but considering the story behind the place and how the lives of tens of thousands of people were affected makes it a historical palace.

The place was very much alive during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war which occurred between 1967 and 1970, as one of the command centers of the warlord O. Ojukwu, a military general in the Biafra armed forces and a former Nigerian military officer years before the war.

Being from the Southeastern part of Nigeria and an indigene of Abia state, virtually all kids born after the war have their ears updated with the war stories from early childhood. My parents and grandparents partook in such unwritten war storytelling law, which built curiosity in me to visit the Bunker.

Their narration of the war events were not of fun memories but of hunger, extreme hardship, sickness and loss of loved ones to avoidable death brought about by the war. My maternal grandmother still recounts with tears how she lost her twin sons, my mother's supposed siblings then and how some of her children suffered from kwashiorkor due to malnutrition. Anyway, that's a story for another time, one I will not enjoy relating. Let's take a little look at the Bunker through some pictures.

At the front of one of the buildings in the environment flanked by the images of Gen. C. O. Ojukwu and Michael Okpara. Low maintenance culture and negligence of the government has left them this way.

Inside the underground with electricity generator used in lighting up the area because it's a total dungeon darkness replica without light. I've not been to a dungeon before, but watching cartoons and movies taught me what it looks like 😊🤪.

Shortly after you enter the lobby leading to the bunker, you'll will see these images on the wall. The one in the right hand side has its heading as "THE MUSEUM FOR PEACE AND HARMONY IN THE SOCIETY". An irony one might say considering this heartbreaking image below found some steps inside the ground.

"The effects of war on the soldiers and civilians" is boldly written on the picture surrounded by "graphic images" of what people suffered during the days of the war. The image of the malnourished woman still breastfeeding her equally malnourished baby sends a strong message that PEACE IS PRICELESS and we have the moral obligation to preserve humanity and dignity of all.

Within the environment, shows some pipes looking as if mounted as taps for water. However, there lies the unique construction of the place as they are actually the air vents to the underground bunker because there are no Air Conditioners there. The air vents really do a great job of aerating the place and sustaining a cool temperature below.

The air vents at various locations within the compound.

A closer look at the air vents is seen below.

The air vents.

As was mentioned in the onset, the place is located in Umuahia, and one of the ordinary monuments within the city is seen on the mini tower below.

Thanks for coming to this memory refreshed with me. The things I saw there coupled with the stories from my grandma and parents have left a lasting impression on me to endeavor to maintain peace and see everyone as one. War is very devastating and I personally believe it should be avoided. Do have a great day as we look forward to better days.

STAY TUNED TO, @emjoe