NGA: 2nd Anniversary of the execution of Ogoni 9 in Ogoni
Debra Guzman
Edited/Distributed by HURINet - The Human Rights Information Network
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## author : stephe...@sfsierra.sierraclub.org
## date : 17.11.97
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From MOSOP...
Please find below report of activities markin the second
anniversary of the execution of the Ogoni 9 as marked in
Ogoni, which I just received from home.
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MONEMENT FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE OGONI PEOPLE(MOSOP) PORT
HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE- NIGERIA
REPORT ON THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE OGONI NINE(9)
The second anniversary of the judicial murder of the Ogoni 9
tagged" OGONI LIBERATION DAY'97" was successfully held in
Ogoni on Nov.10, amidst a web of security network of the
Rivers State Internal Security Task Force and other
operatives that enveloped the entire Ogoni land with the
sole aim of aborting the anniversary.About 50,000
demonstrators chanting songs in unmistakable terms to the
effect that neither intimidation,arrest,imprisonment nor
death could break their resolve, the ogoni people skilfully
beat the security forces to their tricks.Alternating four
venues, they effectively dribbled the operatives and a
mammoth crowd of the aged and the young, men,women and
children from all over Ogoni assembled at zaakpon in Khana
Local Government Area to commemorate the second anniversary
of the killing of the MOSOP leader,KEN SARO-WIWA and eight
other Ogoni compatroits.
The occasion commenced with a candle light procession with
the participants spotting black vests bearing KEN'S potrait
with the inscription2MARTYRS DAY'97".mosop solidarity songs
expressing solidarity with the late MOSOP president, Ken
Saro-Wiwa and all those who were hanged with him 2 years
ago, including all those who have been killed in the various
military raids on Ogoni villages, vowing to continue the the
struggle until ultimate victory is achieved.Shell and the
government were also cursed and accused of planning a final
decimation of remnants of the Ogoni population to achieve
easy re-entry into Ogoni. They also vowed to non-violently
stop shell's return even if it means laying down their
lives.
The message by the Acting president, mr Ledum Mitee to mark
the occasion was read whilstshort speeches by activists were
also entertained.Speaker after speaker urged the people to
remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, noting that
the ideals for which Ken and others paid the supreme
sacrifice must not be in vain. They also urged the people to
resist any attempt by Shell to return to Ogoni until they
have dialogued with the right representatives of the people
and met the Ogoni demands as contained in the Ogoni Bill of
rights.Placards denouncing the roles of shell and the
Nigerian military junta in tjhe judicial murder of the Ogoni
9 and all those Ogonis who have been killed on the course of
the MOSOP struggle were carried.
SECURITY SITUATION Security build up in Ogoni started a week
to Nov.10, with heavy security concentration of troops in
strategic towns like Bane-Ken's home town, and Kegbara
Dere-Ledum Mitee's home town. Troops of the internal
Security Task Force maintained patrols in virtually all
Ogoni villages during the nights preceding the Nov.10
anniversary with the patrols intensified on the eve of
Nov.10 thereby forcing most people indoors, an imposing an
unofficial dusk to dawn curfew on the villages.
A week to the Nov 10 anniversary date the Internal Security
Task force commenced a crackdown on MOSOP activists ans
suspected sympathisers of the of the Ogoni cause, harassing,
torturing,arresting and detaining persons from accross Ogoni
and Ogoni and Port Harcourt. Those arrested include:Mrs
Monima Kogbo and Miss Happiness Kogbo, mother and sister
respectively of Mr. Sunny Kogbo, president of National Union
of Ogoni Students, Mr Chris Asigbo, a final year student of
the university of Port Harcourt who was abducted from his
hostel room at the " Abuja Park" of the university inthe
early hours of Tuesday 5th Nov by a combined team of plain
cloth security operatives and men of the Internal Security
Task Force, and detained at Bori camp military barracks,
Port harcourt. So also was Mr.Innocent Needu of Taabaa.
Government, through an announcement aired through the state
radio station ( radio Rivers2 ) banned all meetings and
gatherings in Ogoni especially in Gokana kingdom. On
Saturday Nov 8 Major Obi Umahi,head of the Internal Security
Task Force, followed up, forcing paramount chiefs, community
Development Community members and other chiefs to meeting at
kpor. There he warned them of the consequences that will
befall them should they not be able to to prevail on their
subjects not to commemorate Nov 10.On sunday Nov 9 Major Obi
led a troop of armed soldiers to Ogoni villages assembling
villagers at their respective squares warning people not to
come out on Nov 10.He said no church services,or gatherings
of any nature should be held, threatening to shoot at sight
any one found spottingblack attire.Villagers were also
warned to remain indoors throughout Nov.10. No one was to be
allowed to go afishing or farming. At Bera on Nov10, Mr
Barifaa Sunday, a 37 year old man who went on that day to
tap palm wine was arrested by major Obi Umahi himself and
was taken to Kpor for detention and subsequently released on
Tuesday Nov 11. Major Umahi also also personally led troops
that laid ambush at a Bera farmland, on the rumour that the
people were planning to hold the Nov 10 rally on the
farmland to evade security network in the village. But the
Bera people had finished the rally before Major Umahi and
his troops could arrive on the scene. Umahi also supervised
patrols in other kingdoms and stayed the night at Bori.
At Wiyaakara in Ken Khana kingdom, troops of the Internal
security task force also raided the area subjecting anyone
in sight to intense torture, on hearing that a MOSOP rally
was held there in remembrance of the fallen heroes. At
Kaani, a stone throw from Bori main town, the internal
security task force also raided the area ,and beat up
people, after hearing that the Nov 10 anniversary rally was
also held there. Apart from the central rally, individual
villages also held rallies and candle lit processions.
The security omslaught was not restricted to Ogoni. In Port
Harcourt, security agents raided the ND-HERO( Niger Delta
Human and Environmental Rights Organosation) and Oil Watch
offices, and residential houses of members of these
organisations. Dr M.T Akobo and an aide were arrested and
detained and later released. The houses of Mr. Stanley
Worgu, Mr.Felix Tuodolor, secretary and human rights
directoe respectively of the ND-HERO, mr, Isaac Osuaka and
Patrick Nagbanton were not spared.
Nwibari Nwako
Secretary, Crises management committee