A central theme in “In the Shadow of War” is the idea of truth and its absence. Omovo is deceitful on several occasions. Firstly, he conceals his true name from the soldiers. Secondly, he lies by saying he hasn't seen the veiled woman. Omovo's inclination to lie and his initial misunderstandings, like confusing corpses for overturned canoes, imply that his account of the events in the forest might not be entirely reliable. However, another perspective on Omovo's dishonesty is that he is morally justified in protecting the veiled woman. The narrator mentions that Omovo listens to radio broadcasts about the war, which he doesn't fully understand. Despite this, Omovo's lies show that he grasps certain aspects of the conflict, such as the threat the woman would face if he revealed her to the soldiers. By showing how lying can be perceived as a moral action, Okri underscores the complexities of right and wrong that war brings about.

The theme of honesty is first introduced when Omovo’s father tells him, “Heclipses hate children. They eat them.” The father's smile suggests he doesn't expect Omovo to take this seriously, and indeed, Omovo doesn’t. This harmless falsehood can be seen as a playful joke between a father and his inquisitive son, but it also introduces the notion that not everything presented as fact can be trusted. Simultaneously, the father’s explanation that an eclipse is “when the world goes dark” provides a truthful piece of information. This scene implies that honesty and deceit often coexist, urging readers to determine which parts of the story are true and which are not. For example, by the story's end, readers are left wondering whether the veiled woman is a spy or a witch. More importantly, they must decide if they believe the events in the forest truly happened or if they are a product of Omovo’s imagination.

"In the Shadow of War" unfolds during the Nigerian Civil War, providing a backdrop for Okri to explore morality and the way war blurs the lines between conventional moral actions and those deemed immoral. As noted earlier in the section about the theme of truth, Omovo's deceit illustrates how an action typically considered immoral can be justified during wartime. By lying about not seeing the veiled woman, Omovo prevents the soldiers from knowing she entered the forest via the village paths and the Express road, thereby safeguarding her escape, at least temporarily.

Earlier in the narrative, Omovo defies his father by turning the radio back on after he leaves for work. Under normal circumstances, this would be seen as intentional disobedience. However, the information Omovo gathers from the radio shapes his decision to deceive the soldiers and reject their bribe. Thus, this act of defiance can be viewed as a way to make informed choices and act rightly, especially in his attempt to protect the veiled woman.

While Okri delves into the complexities of moral behavior, he also sheds light on the injustices of war. The most glaring injustice is the veiled woman’s death at the hands of the soldiers for assisting malnourished children and women. Ultimately, readers are left uncertain about whether the veiled woman is a spy or merely a benefactor to the war's victims, underscoring Okri's belief that killing anyone is fundamentally wrong.

The concept of loyalty is a central theme in "In the Shadow of War," manifesting in multiple forms: loyalty to one's nation, to humanity, and to family. The pursuit of the veiled woman by the soldiers highlights their dedication to the national cause. Their mission is to reunite Nigeria...