“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.” — George Orwell
Today In History
1. King Koko Led A Successful Attack On the Royal Niger Company Headquarters In Akassa
On this day in 1895, king Frederick William Koko Mingi VIII (aka “Koko”) of Nembe and some other kings and chiefs in the Niger Delta region attacked the Royal Niger Company (RNC) headquarters in Akassa in present day Bayelsa. Koko, who led the attack was accompanied by 22 war canoes and 1,500 soldiers.
Koko and his army destroyed the warehouses and offices, vandalised official and industrial machines, burnt down the entire depot and killed many Brits.
2. Somaliland Was Bombed By British Airforce Planes
On this day in 1920, following strong opposition and resistance from the Dervish forces in Somaliland, the British forces, comprising elements of the Royal Air Force and the Somaliland Camel Corps conquered by aerial bombardment.
The Royal Airforce had overseen the whole attack by establishing the tactics of aerial bombardment followed by attacks by ground forces, while also providing support for ground troops during concurrent attacks.
3. French President Charles De Gaul Televised His Reaffirmation Of Algerian Independence
On this day in 1960, following the battle of Ismaila and the uprisings in Algeria, the French President Charles De Gaul of Algeria announced on television that he is resolute in his decision to allow Algerians to determine their own future.
4. Yoweri Museveni Was Sworn-In As Uganda’s President
On this day in 1986, General Yoweri Museveni, who had toppled General Tito Okelo was sworn-in as the 9th President of Uganda in the country’s capital, Kampala.
5. Ghana’s President John Kufour Became African Union Chairman
On this day in 2007, Ghana’s President, John Kufour was appointed as the Chairman of the African Union in place of Sudan’s President, Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
The decision was unanimously reached to snub Sudan because of the worsening violence in West Sudan. Sudan had also been gunning for the position since the previous year they hosted the congress, however the African leaders selected the Congo Republic’s president in a compromise deal in which he would hold it for a year and then hand it over to President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan; a deal which fell through due to the civil unrest in Sudan.
6. SCAT Airlines Flight Crash
On this day in 2013, SCAT Airlines Flight 760, a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Kokshetau to Almaty, Kazakhstan, crashed killing all 16 passengers and 5 crew on board.
7. Quebec City Mosque Shooting
On this day in 2017, a single gunman attacked the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City, a mosque in the Sainte-Foy neighbourhood of Quebec City, Canada.
The gunman who entered the mosque after evening prayers at about 8:00pm, opened fire with his 9mm Glock pistol. Six people died, while five others were injured in the shooting.
