October 19th of every year is a day seen as a
"liberation day" for the Tungbo clan in the Sagbama area of Bayelsa State, as they mark the
Ebe-Benimo-Oge Festival to remember when their gods saved them from the hands of Biafran soldiers who had wanted to wipe out the entire community for leaking information of the
Biafra Operation Camp in Tungbo to the Nigerian army during the Nigerian civil war of 1967.
Highlights of the festival include firing of cannon shots to declare the festival open, the appearance of the traditional war boats, a re-enactment of the days where the boats served as war armory to convene warriors to the battle grounds, wrestling bouts among able young men, and a sacrifice to a crocodile, which is the Tungbo's symbol of power and authority. The people believe that no crocodile can hurt them so they revere it.
Photo Credit: SaharaReporters
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