Adaka Boro

Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro (10 September 1938 – 9 May 1968) was a Nigerian soldier, politician, and revolutionary who played a critical role in the struggle for resource control and minority rights in the Niger Delta region. He is widely remembered as the founder of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) and a precursor to later Niger Delta militancy movements. Early Life and Education Boro was born in Kaiama, in the present-day Bayelsa State, Nigeria. He was of Ijaw descent. He attended several schools, including Hussey College in Warri and Government College Umuahia, before studying chemistry at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). While at UNN, Boro became increasingly involved in student politics and activism, focusing on the marginalization of the Ijaw people and the exploitation of oil resources in the Niger Delta. His early activism was deeply rooted in his belief that the minority ethnic groups of the region were being unjustly excluded from the benefits of their native land's oil wealth. Career Progression and Major Achievements Boro's career as an activist culminated in the pivotal declaration of the Niger Delta Republic on February 23, 1966. Frustrated with the lack of federal attention to the plight of the Niger Delta people and the slow pace of development, Boro, alongside other leaders like Samuel Owonaru and Nottingham Dick, launched a 12-day revolution. His Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), comprising thousands of Ijaw youth, engaged Nigerian federal forces in armed conflict. Although the rebellion was swiftly suppressed, Boro and his comrades were captured, tried for treason, and sentenced to death under the regime of General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Following the counter-coup later that year, General Yakubu Gowon assumed power and granted Boro and his co-conspirators amnesty in 1967. Boro subsequently aligned with the Federal side during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). He was commissioned as a Major in the Nigerian Army and played a vital role in leading a contingent of Ijaw volunteers. His intimate knowledge of the terrain was instrumental in helping the federal forces reclaim parts of the Niger Delta that were under Biafran control, particularly around Bonny. Notable Works and Legacy Adaka Boro’s primary notable work is his autobiographical account, *The Twelve-Day Revolution*, which documents the political climate leading up to the 1966 uprising, the execution of the revolution, and his subsequent trial. The book serves as a foundational text for understanding the historical context of the struggle for resource control in the Niger Delta. His most enduring legacy lies in drawing national and international attention to the issues of environmental degradation and economic injustice faced by the minorities in the oil-producing region, inspiring subsequent generations of activists and political movements. Current Status Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro died on May 9, 1968, near Port Harcourt, during a battle fighting for the Nigerian Federal Government against Biafran forces. His death is commemorated annually by Ijaw people and other Niger Delta groups. He is revered today as a national hero and martyr in the Niger Delta, with his name and image frequently invoked in discussions about political autonomy, resource control, and the historical grievances of the region.