MUST READ: Remembering The Tiv Warrior, Major Iorva Asula (RTD) [PHOTO]

Major Iorva Asula(RTD) in white shirt left

This post on the man I call the Tiv warrior is motivated by a passionate appeal I read on the wall of Chioma Obi.

In any organized society, the Tiv warrior would have been either a Senator or a Frontline infantry General in the North East. Not in Nigeria where sycophants, ethnic and religious opportunists and god sons dictates the national road map.
As a member of ECOMOG I fought alongside Major Asula in the diamond rich but death prone Kono District of Sierra Leone where South African and Ukrainian mercenaries, rebels, government paramilitary and death squads scavenged for diamond amid blood and death.
We defended Makeni, Kamakwe, Kambia (on the Guinea border) and Freetown while facing rebels advances which had driven us out of Kono and the Northern Province. In all our battles I was strengthened by ASULA presence.
Asula is a born warrior. He was cool under fire and the trauma of war never showed in his disposition. Troops adored him. Simple and unassuming, Asula is effacing but highly intelligent when you have a personal discussion with him. He lost his index finger during the war and was retired after completing his staff college where he couldn't write effectively due to his deformity.
The Nigerian system doesn't have space for true national heroes. Of course we have lots of officers and soldiers who performed heroically during the ECOMOG war but who can forget Asula, the one we affectionately called The General! I am aware Asula has been abandoned by the system, colleagues, government and country he passionately served. Tragic!
Asula is still alive. The Nigerian state can redeem our image by showing appreciation to him. He deserves a national award and recognition.
~ Usenekong Ikon