Nigerian court orders UK to pay £420m over 1949 Iva Valley massacre
Families of 21 coal miners killed by colonial police in Enugu won a landmark judgment 77 years later.
Key points
- An Enugu State High Court ordered the British government in February 2026 to pay £420 million to the families of 21 coal miners killed in the 1949 Iva Valley massacre.
- Justice Anthony Onovo awarded £20 million per victim; the suit was filed in 2024 by activist Mazi Greg Onoh.
- The UK government said it had not been formally notified of the judgment and was not represented in the proceedings.
A Nigerian court has ordered the British government to pay £420 million in compensation to the families of 21 coal miners killed by colonial police in Enugu in 1949.
Justice Anthony Onovo of the Enugu State High Court delivered the ruling in early February 2026, awarding £20 million per victim.
What happened in 1949
In November 1949, miners at the Iva Valley coal mine in Enugu protested against harsh working conditions, racial pay gaps and unpaid wages. British colonial police opened fire, killing 21 miners and injuring 51 others. The massacre became a landmark moment in Nigeria's struggle for independence.
The case
The suit was filed in 2024 by human rights activist Mazi Greg Onoh. It sought an acknowledgement of liability, formal apologies and compensation from the British government, the UK Foreign Secretary and the Nigerian federal government.
Will the UK pay?
The UK government said it had not been formally notified of the judgment and was not represented in the proceedings. Enforcing a Nigerian court judgment against a foreign government is legally complicated, so whether any money is paid remains uncertain.
Why it matters
Whatever happens next, the ruling adds to a growing movement for accountability over colonial-era abuses. In March, the UN General Assembly adopted a Ghana-led resolution calling for dialogue on reparations for the slave trade.
Sources
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