166
7 Water and Wastewater Treatment
services, political marginalization as well as the maltreatment they experienced
from Shell. According to the bill, there was a need for Ogoniland’s environment
to be protected, self-determination, cultural rights, and representation of the Ogoni
in Nigerian institutions. More importantly, there was a need for a fair proportion of
the revenue from oil sales.
In years preceding conflict escalation in 1992–1993, Ken Saro-Wiwa tried to
gain the support of global non-governmental organizations. MOSOP combined with
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization which enabled it to have better
global recognition through meetings with the United Nations and media attention.
The conflict became more entrenched after 2 years without significant progress.
MOSOP refocused its energies on the three oil-producing organizations in the
region: Chevron, Nigerian National Petroleum Company, and Shell (Pegg 2000).
Shell became the primary target as it had the largest share. Saro-Wiwa led the
group in presenting the organization with an ultimatum that demanded 10 billion
dollars in royalties and damages to the Ogoni. He also demanded an end to all
forms of damage caused by the three companies against the environment. The threat
was that in case these conditions were not met, MOSOP would rally the Ogoni
community in widespread protests to oppose the presence of these companies. To
respond to these threats, the Nigerian government decided to announce that any form
of disturbance of oil production would be punishable as treason. It also prohibited
all public assemblies and meetings. Despite the prohibition of all public assemblies,
MOSOP organized a massive peaceful protect that rallied at least 300,000 Ogonis on
January 4, 1993. The protesters held green twigs to symbolize the environment. With
more than 60% of the Ogonis in the area protesting, they demanded fundamental
environmental rights and self-determination, referred to as the First Ogoni Day
(Pegg 2000). The protests led to the withdrawal of Shell from the region, thus
reducing the quantity of petroleum extracted from the region as well as reducing
profits to oil organizations that continued operating within the area.
The government tried to respond to the success of the First Ogoni Day and
withdrawal of Shell by forcefully suppressing Ogoni activities. In April 1993,
soldiers fired live ammunition to disperse 10,000 Ogoni protestors, resulting in the
death of 10 protesters. The government also commenced wiping out entire villages.
In December, the government killed Ogoni people who were living in Port Harcourt.
In 1994 (Easter Sunday), it raided Ogoni villages found close to Afam and killed
its inhabitants. Later investigations disclosed that NATO bullets and mortar bombs
were utilized in the massacre. By June 15, the government destroyed 30 villages.
Despite the death and displacement of thousands, widespread protests continued in
the entire region. With more repression in the country, global support and awareness
of the Ogoni struggle continued growing. The repeated arrests of Ken Saro-Wiwa in
1994 made Amnesty International and Greenpeace lead an international campaign
for him to be released. Contrastingly, dissent in the Movement led to divisions
between the president and other movement leaders. While Saro-Wiwa left the
country on May 21, 1994, four Ogoni chiefs who disagreed with him were killed.
On the next day, Saro-Wiwa was arrested along with eight other activists. He was
held without legal representation, medical care, or charges for several months.
7 Water and Wastewater Treatment
services, political marginalization as well as the maltreatment they experienced
from Shell. According to the bill, there was a need for Ogoniland’s environment
to be protected, self-determination, cultural rights, and representation of the Ogoni
in Nigerian institutions. More importantly, there was a need for a fair proportion of
the revenue from oil sales.
In years preceding conflict escalation in 1992–1993, Ken Saro-Wiwa tried to
gain the support of global non-governmental organizations. MOSOP combined with
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization which enabled it to have better
global recognition through meetings with the United Nations and media attention.
The conflict became more entrenched after 2 years without significant progress.
MOSOP refocused its energies on the three oil-producing organizations in the
region: Chevron, Nigerian National Petroleum Company, and Shell (Pegg 2000).
Shell became the primary target as it had the largest share. Saro-Wiwa led the
group in presenting the organization with an ultimatum that demanded 10 billion
dollars in royalties and damages to the Ogoni. He also demanded an end to all
forms of damage caused by the three companies against the environment. The threat
was that in case these conditions were not met, MOSOP would rally the Ogoni
community in widespread protests to oppose the presence of these companies. To
respond to these threats, the Nigerian government decided to announce that any form
of disturbance of oil production would be punishable as treason. It also prohibited
all public assemblies and meetings. Despite the prohibition of all public assemblies,
MOSOP organized a massive peaceful protect that rallied at least 300,000 Ogonis on
January 4, 1993. The protesters held green twigs to symbolize the environment. With
more than 60% of the Ogonis in the area protesting, they demanded fundamental
environmental rights and self-determination, referred to as the First Ogoni Day
(Pegg 2000). The protests led to the withdrawal of Shell from the region, thus
reducing the quantity of petroleum extracted from the region as well as reducing
profits to oil organizations that continued operating within the area.
The government tried to respond to the success of the First Ogoni Day and
withdrawal of Shell by forcefully suppressing Ogoni activities. In April 1993,
soldiers fired live ammunition to disperse 10,000 Ogoni protestors, resulting in the
death of 10 protesters. The government also commenced wiping out entire villages.
In December, the government killed Ogoni people who were living in Port Harcourt.
In 1994 (Easter Sunday), it raided Ogoni villages found close to Afam and killed
its inhabitants. Later investigations disclosed that NATO bullets and mortar bombs
were utilized in the massacre. By June 15, the government destroyed 30 villages.
Despite the death and displacement of thousands, widespread protests continued in
the entire region. With more repression in the country, global support and awareness
of the Ogoni struggle continued growing. The repeated arrests of Ken Saro-Wiwa in
1994 made Amnesty International and Greenpeace lead an international campaign
for him to be released. Contrastingly, dissent in the Movement led to divisions
between the president and other movement leaders. While Saro-Wiwa left the
country on May 21, 1994, four Ogoni chiefs who disagreed with him were killed.
On the next day, Saro-Wiwa was arrested along with eight other activists. He was
held without legal representation, medical care, or charges for several months.