The Enugu State High Court has ordered the British government to pay £20 million in compensation to each family of the 21 coal miners killed during the Iva Valley massacre of November 18, 1949.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Anthony Onovo ruled that the killing of the miners was unlawful and unjustified, holding the British government accountable for reparations. The court also directed that a formal public apology be issued to the families of the victims and published in newspapers circulating in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
The lawsuit was instituted by Greg Onoh, who requested a declaration of liability, financial compensation, and a formal apology on behalf of the descendants of the miners killed at the Iva Valley coal mine, now located in present-day Enugu.
Named as respondents in the suit were the British government, the UK Foreign Office, the Nigerian Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Head of the Commonwealth, and other UK authorities. None of the British respondents appeared in court or sent legal representation.
In his ruling, Justice Onovo stated that the miners were unarmed civilians who had embarked on a peaceful protest over unpaid wages and harsh working conditions.
He noted that the victims posed no threat to authorities and were merely demanding better treatment when they were shot and killed.
The court ordered the first, second, fifth, and sixth respondents to jointly pay a total sum of £420 million—representing £20 million for each victim—along with a post-judgment interest of 10 percent annually until the compensation is fully paid. However, claims for pre-judgment interest and exemplary damages were dismissed.
Justice Onovo further instructed the Nigerian government to engage the British government diplomatically within 60 days to ensure enforcement of the judgment and the pursuit of justice for the victims’ families.
Background
The incident dates back to November 1, 1949, when coal miners at the Iva Valley mine in Enugu, then the administrative capital of Nigeria’s Eastern Region, began a strike over unpaid wages and poor working conditions imposed by the colonial administration.
At the time, coal was a major economic resource for the British colonial government. Efforts by colonial authorities to shut down mining operations in response to the strike were resisted by the workers.
Amid rising tensions, the colonial police chief, identified as F.S. Philip, allegedly ordered security forces to open fire on the striking miners, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 workers and injuries to several others.
The court ruling has reignited debate over accountability for colonial-era abuses and raised questions about whether the UK will comply with the judgment and what it could mean for other unresolved historical injustices.
