The Federal Government is set to make a formal reconciliation declaration over the 1967 Asaba Massacre, 59 years after hundreds were killed during the Nigerian Civil War.

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, disclosed this on Wednesday at the massacre’s anniversary memorial in Asaba.

Oborevwori said official acknowledgement was crucial to reconciliation, adding that the state had acknowledged the tragedy and the Federal Government would follow suit.

The Asagba of Asaba, Prof Epiphany Azinge, said the community had forgiven but not forgotten, insisting that a sitting President must publicly apologise before there could be full closure.

Maj-Gen Ahmed Ibrahim Taiwo (retd.), whose late father was associated with the events, also apologised to the people of Asaba.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo described the massacre as one of the most painful episodes of the Civil War and urged Nigerians to forgive.

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, called for truth, justice and healing, while Emu said Delta State was proposing a memorial centre to preserve the names and testimonies of victims.