The world is full of injustice, and many people have died in their determination to get justice. The Ogoni nine, a group of self-determined activists from the Niger Delta lost their precious lives while fighting for justice.
Like many activists killed by the military junta of General Sani Abacha, the Ogoni nine had a painful death. The voices of the global communities and prominent world activists, such as Nelson Mandela, could not save them as General Abacha’s regime hanged their heads in public.
They killed them for demanding accountability from oil companies operating in the Niger Delta. The multi-billion-dollar companies, which include Shell, were accused of devastating Ogoniland’s environment through oil spills.
The powerful Ogoni nine, led by Ken Saro-Wiwa and including Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine, were killed on the 10th of November, 1995.
Meanwhile, the warriors did not die fighting for their rights. They did everything to defend themselves after the military junta accused them of masterminding the death of four Ogoni chiefs during a riot. The military, according to many sources, orchestrated the riot to implicate the Ogoni nine through their peaceful protests.
Only a few individuals were lucky enough to defeat the dictators at their self-sponsored military tribunal. Unfortunately, the Ogoni nine were among the unlucky ones. The biased court gave them no fair defence. Also, the witnesses who testified against them later admitted to receiving bribes from the government.
Year after year, the labours of the Ogoni nine seem to have been in vain. President Bola Tinubu, however, made a surprising announcement during the country’s 26th Democracy Day. During the program, the President not only honoured the brave fighters, but he also granted them a state pardon.
“I hereby give the CON award to Ken Saro-Wiwa and OON to the remaining Ogoni 8 and also grant them a State FULL PARDON”- Tinubu disclosed in an address to the nation delivered before the 10th assembly.
Environmental Hazards Continue In Ogoniland Due To Oil Spills
While honouring the Ogoni nine was a commendable gesture from the Nigerian government, further efforts are needed to improve the situation in the Niger Delta. The oil spills in the region have led to an increase in poverty, according to a recent report by Al-Jazeera.
Life has become difficult for the residents as the oil activities have destroyed many farmlands. In Ikarama, a community in the southernmost Nigerian state of Bayelsa, most of the farm produce was tiny.
“It makes it difficult for me to feed my family and train my children in school because that is the only thing I do”.
“It is better we don’t even cultivate because our crops die after planting and we must replant repeatedly,” she said.
“As we dig the soil, we find crude oil during planting. Some species of cocoyam have disappeared,” she added.
As a result, the government needs to take further action to clean up the region. They also need to provide alternative means of income for the residents. Therefore, honouring the dead Ogoni nine might not be enough to correct the wrong done to them and their communities.
