In the late 1980s, Mr. Emmanuel Chukwu was one of Liberia’s wealthiest foreign businessmen, with investments estimated at $89 million, including a rice-import company and two cargo ships. He was deeply respected in Monrovia, forging close relationships with government officials
War Erupts – Nigerians Become Targets
When civil war broke out in Liberia in 1989, rebel leader Charles Taylor declared that for every Liberian soldier killed, five Nigerians would die. Nigerian diplomats and civilians became primary targets
With Nigeria’s evacuation slow to arrive, Mr. Chukwu took matters into his own hands:
- He deployed his two cargo ships and used his funds to evacuate over 1,000 Nigerians, including women and children, directly from Monrovia
- He paid bribes to Taylor’s coast guard to ensure their safe departure and even loaned out his new Mercedes to rescue detained Nigerians.
Tremendous Losses, Unshakable Resolve
By the end, Chukwu had sacrificed it all:
- Lost ships, ruined businesses, and vanished bank accounts amid financial collapse.
- Personal tragedy, including the execution of his younger brother during the war.
- He returned home in 1991 with barely $600, weighed down by grief and financial ruin
Upon his return, Mr. Chukwu was met with pledges of recognition and support:
- Leaders from General Babangida to Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan, and Foreign Affairs Minister Dora Akunyili expressed their gratitude and intention to help.
- Yet, no payments have been made to date.
Today, Chukwu survives modestly in Lagos and Suleja, struggling to pay rent. His wife, Tobi, has lost her sight after being unable to complete her treatment, and they now face possible homelessness
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The Reality Today
Photos and reports from 2019 show a frail, elderly couple in a three-bedroom apartment at Jakande Estate, Isolo—housing only their most basic needs. A landlord’s eviction notice looms over them thisdaylive.com.
Chukwu remains hopeful that his story, once brought into the open, will inspire individuals and officials to act. As he told THISDAY, he believes that, when more Nigerians learn of his sacrifice, there might finally be a response to help him and his blind wife regain stability.
Why This Story Matters
- Extraordinary courage: One man acted decisively to save over a thousand compatriots when no official protocol existed.
- Unmatched personal cost: He gave up his fortune, his business empire, and suffered personal loss.
- A call to conscience: His ongoing struggle, decades later, raises essential questions about how we support those whose heroism saved others.
What He Needs Now
- Recognition – national honours celebrating his bravery.
- Compensation – follow-through on the promises made by national leaders.
- Medical and housing aid – for him and his wife’s urgent health and living needs.
Emmanuel Chukwu is more than a survivor—he’s a national hero whose selfless actions saved lives at great personal sacrifice. Now, past compassion must transform into concrete support. This is a long read worth every line, because true heroism deserves to be honored, remembered, and sustained.
