- Nigeria defeated Algeria 3 – 0 to win her first African Cup of Nations
- A pipeline fire killed 50 people siphoning off gas in Abia
- Militants threatened to blow up 11 oil facilities
- 127 prisoners escaped in Adamawa jail attack
- Suicide blasts rocked Nigeria migrant camp, killed three
According to Lin Yutang, human history is not the product of the wise direction of human reason, but it is shaped by the forces of emotion – our dreams, our pride, our greed, our fears, and our desire for revenge.
Every aspect of history deserves to be preserved. Because they reflect a positive aspect of who we are, we must value every detail, good or bad. The gains or losses of the past must still be considered as we make projections for the future.
Five noteworthy or significant events that shaped every March 22 in Nigeria’s history have been highlighted by WITHIN NIGERIA in an effort to increase awareness or maintain our memories as residents of this country through contemplation on the past.
Nigeria defeated Algeria 3 – 0 to win her first African Cup of Nations
On this date, 22nd of March in 1980, Nigeria defeated Algeria 3-0 with two goals from Segun Odegbami and a goal from Muda Lawal, to win their first African Cup.
The 1980 African Cup of Nations Final was a football match that took place on 22 March 1980, at the National Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria, to determine the winner of the 1980 African Cup of Nations.
The feat was achieved by a cream of talented players – all home-based, from Nigerian clubs as Rangers International FC of Enugu; IICC Shooting Stars (now 3SC); Calabar Rovers; Bendel Insurance FC of Benin; Racca Rovers of Kano, and others.
The list of the team include Christian Chukwu; Segun Odegbami; Adokie Amiesimaka; Felix Owolabi; Kadiri Ikhana; Emmanuel Okala; Sylvanus Okpala and Henry Nwosu.
Others include Godwin Odiye; Ifeanyi Onyedika; Shefiu Mohammed; Moses Effiong; Frank Onwachi; Best Ogedegbe (late); Okey Isima; Muda Lawal (late); Tunde Bamidele; Aloysius Atuegbu (late) and Martin Eyo.
A pipeline fire killed 50 people siphoning off gas in Abia
On this date, 22nd of March in 2000, atleast 50 people were killed when a pipeline housing gas exploded and caught fire at a remote village in Abia.
Scores of people had gathered to siphon gas from the leak at the remote village in Abia State, 450 km.
Militants threatened to blow up 11 oil facilities
On this date, 22nd of March in 2003, Nigeria ethnic militants threatened to blow up 11 multinational oil installations they claimed to have captured in retaliation for military raids.
Dan Ekpebide, a leader of Ijaw tribal fighters in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, said his followers took over pipeline facilities belonging to ChevronTexaco, Royal/Dutch Shell and TotalFinaElf on Friday. The companies had earlier evacuated the sites during unrest that has killed scores of people.
The threats came as the army accused the tribal fighters of attacking a TotalFinaElf facility Saturday. Two Nigerian army soldiers and a retired officer guarding the facility were among five people killed, army spokesman Col. Chukwuemeka Onwuamaegbu said.
Ijaw militants said 65 of their ranks died in battles with government troops Friday and Saturday.
The fighters demanded that the Nigerian military halt raids against their villages. They also insisted that the government redraw voting boundaries ahead of April elections.
127 prisoners escaped in Adamawa jail attack
On this date, 22nd of March in 2013, gunmen attacked the remote town of Ganye, Adamawa, freed 120 inmates. The assailants also attacked a bank and a drinking spot killing 25 people.
According to reports, only one prisoner, who was shot and injured in the leg, was left behind in the prison in the town of Ganye after the attack.
“We lost a deputy comptroller in charge of the Ganye prison in the attack. He was shot dead by the gunmen,” Barka, a prison chief told newsmen.
Suicide blasts rocked Nigeria migrant camp, killed three
On this date, 22nd of March in 2017, no fewer than four suicide blasts rocked a camp for migrants fleeing Boko Haram insurgents in restive northeastern Nigeria on Wednesday, killing at least three people and wounding 20.
The bombings triggered fires which burned down tents in the vast Muna camp on the outskirts of the city of Maiduguri, camp coordinator Tijjani Lumani told AFP.
“There were four explosions inside the camp. The bombers struck at different locations around 4:30 am,” he said.